Motivation and Competition: Their Role in Sports

Millions of people throughout the world are highly involved in sports as athletes, coaches, or spectators. Children start at very young ages trying to hit a softball, catch a football, or stand up on ice skates. Recent figures indicate that over 20 million school-aged Americans play organized sports (Magill, Ash, & Smoll, 1978). Furthermore, the percentage of girls involved in sports although still small, is steadily growing. Adults are no less involved in athletics, though their participation tends to be as coaches and spectators. Sports is one of the most frequent topics of conversation during coffee breaks and lunch hours, and games such as the Super Bowl have more television viewers than virtually any other programs.