SportLogia (Dec 2011)
SOME DIFFERENCES IN SPORTS MOTIVATION OF YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYERS FROM RUSSIA, SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
Abstract
In accordance with the conceptual framework of self-determination theory, sports motivation in this research was operationalized as intrinsic motivation (to know, to accomplish and to experience stimulation), extrinsic motivation (by identification, introjection and external regulation) and amotivation for sport (Deci & Ryan, 2000). The aim of this exploratory research was to test such concept of sports motivation on a sample of young football players from different countries (Russia, Serbia, and Montenegro). It was assumed that young football players did not differ with respect to intrinsic motivation regardless of their age and country. Major differences were assumed to exist in extrinsic aspects of sports motivation which may indicate a potential specificity of social influences in various countries or different development-related levels of internalization of extrinsic reasons for engaging in sports activity. The research included 178 young football players aged 12 to 15. The Sport Motivation Scale (SMS-28; Pelleiter, Fortier, Vallerand, Briere, Tuson, & Blais, 1995) was used. t-test, ANOVA and MANOVA were applied. Significant differences were found between young football players from Russia and from Serbia and Montenegro regarding intrinsic motivation to accomplish and all aspects of extrinsic motivation. The twelve-year-olds differ from other tested ages by amotivation, and there are important differences between the football players aged 13 and 14 regarding extrinsic motivation by identification, introjected extrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation by external regulation. When the country and age of young football players are taken into account at the same time by the motivation analysis, the major difference is spotted only in introjected extrinsic motivation.
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