By Steve Maynard
Motivation can be described as the psychological drive to pursue a course of action and is identified as an essential component affecting action outcomes. The actions of coaches can influence participants’ motivation through the motivational climate they shape. A climate in which participants are oriented towards task/mastery goals (learning and improving, effort perceived as beneficial and a requirement for success) is associated with a range of desirable outcomes such as wellbeing, enjoyment, effective use of learning strategies, increased willingness to attempt challenging tasks, and reduced dropout. In contrast, a climate that orients participants towards ego/performance goals (desire to demonstrate superiority over others, effort is perceived as an indicator of lower ability) is associated less desirable outcomes such as anxiety, stress, and a reluctance to exert effort or attempt new activities.
