Tip Of The Day Youth Motivation in Sports When youth are asked what motivates them to participate in sports. The typical responses include skill development, affiliation, fitness,...
The typical responses include skill development, affiliation, fitness, fun, competition, excitement or challenge, and release of energy (1).
Additional References:
(1) McCullagh, Matzkanin, Shaw...
Besides the physical toll that obesity takes on children, there are damaging psychological effects. They include adoption of high-risk behaviors, decline in self-esteem, loneliness, nervousness, sadne...
When youth are asked what motivates them to participate in sports. The typical responses include skill development, affiliation, fitness, fun, competition, excitement or challenge, and release of energy (McCullagh, Matzkanin, Shaw, & Maldonado, 1993; Wald. J, 2003).
Besides the physical toll that obesity takes on children, there are damaging psychological effects. They include adoption of high-risk behaviors, decline in self-esteem, loneliness, nervousness, sadness, and negative self-image (1).
Additional References:
(1) - Ebbeling, C.B. et al. (2002). Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure. The Lancet, 360, 473-482
Parent & their Role in children's involvement in Sports
"Parents play a key role in determining their children's sports involvement."
Parental support
To encourage children to engage in physical activity and sport, we have to place emphasis on motivating children. Smoll & Cummings (2006) found that this role is the best filled by parents, as they play a key role in determining their children's sport involvement.
The role of parents in influencing their children's physical activity occurs directly and indirectly (Dempsey, Kimiecik & Horn, 1993). By registering their child and paying participation fees in organised activities, they are directly supporting participation (Atsalakis & Sleap, 1996). Parents indirectly support physical activity by transporting children to places where their children can be active (Hoefer, Mckenzie, Sallis, Marshall & Conway, 2001). Indeed, parental support can have a positive influence on the experiences of children in sport, yet there are numerous reports of the negative influence that parents can exert on their children's sporting experiences. Kidman, McKenzie & McKenzie, 1999 have mentioned there have been cases in Australia and the United States where parents have been banned from attending their children's sporting contests due to inapproriate behaviour.
