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ABSTRACT
The aim of the current study was to assess gender differences in sports motivation among sports players in Goa. A total sample of 51 was administered the personal data sheet and Sports Motivation Scale (SMS-28). The collected data was classified, tabulated and statistically analyzed for significance of mean utilizing the t-test with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 20). Gender differences were analyzed on the overall and dimensions of the sports motivation scale. Overall sports motivation was found to project differences as a function of gender and so did the two dimensions namely external motivation-introjected and external motivation-external regulation. Across the significant and insignificant dimensions of the scale, males displayed a tendency to depict higher levels of motivation than females. Implications and intervention strategies for improving sports motivation among sports players was duly arrived at in essentially providing a few gender specific incentives and considerations.
Key words: Sportsmen, Gender, Sports Motivation, Intrinsic and Extrinsic motivation
1.1 INTRODUCTION & REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The world of games and sports is ever expanding with intensity of competitions, and enlarging scientific studies of human movement. A sport is dynamic in nature and progressive in out load. Sports and games are means of mental and physical growth, and contribute in the formation of character. Owing to this increasing relevance of sports in individual lives, APA instituted the Sports psychology branch to understand the dynamics at play with further depth. Sports psychology is (a) the study of the psychological and mental factors that influence and are influenced by participation and performance in sports, exercise, and physical activity, and (b) the application of knowledge gained through this studies to everyday settings. Sports psychologists are involved in assisting coaches in working with athletes as well as helping improve athletes' motivation. It involves preparing the mind of an athlete, just as thoroughly as prepares the body. Sports psychology is an emerging field in the worlds of psychology and athletics; and tries to understand sports related behavior from the perspectives of various psychology theories. One such theory is; Self-determination theory and it examines the effects of the social context on motivation and individual behaviors (Deci & Ryan, 1985,1991; Ryan & Deci, 2000). Grounded in this framework, numerous studies in the last...