Young Children

in Recreational

Sports

Participation Motivation H. Patrick

Stern, MD,*’†’‡ Robert H. Bradley, PhD,* ‡ Michael T. Prince, PhD,*’‡ Suzanne E. Stroh, RNP‡ ,

More than 20 million children between ages 6 and 16 years participate in nonschool sports programs, with increasingly more programs being established for younger-age children. A questionnaire based on previous research with adolescent athletes was developed to determine participation motivation of 6- to 10-year-old children. Three hundred fourteen boys participating in a basketball program were interviewed privately with this instrument. Of the 12 participation motivation items, "learn to do my best," "learn and improve skills," "have a coach to look up to," and "get stronger and healthier" were most highly rated, whereas "win games" and "become popular" were rated least important. When responses of 6 and 7 year olds were compared with those of 9 and 10 year olds, older children rated "feel part of a team", "have fun and excitement" and "be with and make new friends" higher at a statistically significant level (p < 0.05). Older children rated "win games" and "become popular" lower at a statistically significant level (p < 0.05). The authors conclude that young children in this recreational sports program make significant distinctions in their participation motivation and that some aspects of participation that motivate them change as they grow older.

ALTHOUGH

OVER 20 million children bethe ages of 6 and 16 years participate in nonschool sports programs and although it is estimated that nearly 60 percent of children ages 7 to 11 spend 5 or more hours per week in organized activities,22 little research has been conducted in this area.33 Whereas the American Association on Health, Physical Education and Recreation has published guidelines for children’s participation in sports’ and while there have been efforts to develop age-appropriate coaching strategies for young children (e.g., the American Coaching Effectiveness Program), many of tween

From the *Departments of Pediatrics and †Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and the ‡Division of Medicine Behavioral Pediatrics, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas. Correspondence to: H. Patrick Stern, MD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West -klarkham Street-Slot 512, Little Rock, AR 72205. Received for publication April 1989, revised June 1989, and

accepted August

1989.

the sports programs for young children are still modeled after varsity and professional sports programs. 3,5 Children’s motivations regarding participation have been recognized as one of the most critical needs for present research in children’s sports.’ Little is known about any age group, and almost no information is available regarding children 6 to 10 years old. Participation motivation was studied in males and females who attended a sports summer camp between the ages of 8 and 18. Athletes participated in a variety of sports, with the largest representative sport being basketball for males and cheerleading for females. Male and female campers responded similarly to items on a questionnaire that dealt with reasons for participation in sports. Improving skills was most highly rated overall, followed by having fun, learning new skills, the challenge of sports, and being 6

physically fit. Whether the motivations expressed by older, more and dedicated athletes apply to

experienced,

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younger children, some of whom are new to team sports, is open to question. The attitudes of young children, in general, differ from those of older children. In related areas of investigation, such as attitudes toward winning, there is evidence that children’s attitudes become more &dquo;professional&dquo; with advancing age.7 The purpose of this study was to examine participation motivations in 6- to 10-yearold children in a recreational sport program and to determine if they change as the children get older.

tion sections, and one validity item, &dquo;TV players,&dquo; was included in the skills section to determine whether the children were responding to the items with understanding and care. Children rated the importance of each item on a four-point Lickert-type scale. ,,..=

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Sample Three hundred fourteen boys (79%) in a recreational basketball program at an urban boys club participated. Children were 6 to 10 years old. They played on teams of about ten members in leagues established for each age. Club rules require that every child play a full quarter in each half up to 9 years old, and a full quarter in the first half for 10 year olds. Other rules are modified for each age, such as allowing no full court press in the league for 6 year olds. Children from each age league were well represented within the sample for this study. Specifically, 33 of 49 six year olds, 71 of 78 seven year olds, 77 of 91 eight year olds, 69 of 111 nine year olds, and 64 of 70 ten year olds participated. Of the total sample, 22 percent were black. Socioeconomic levels, based on housing cost in residential areas where children lived, indicated 4 percent were upper (>$175,000), 23 percent were upper middle ($125,000$175,000), 42 percent were middle ($60,000$125,000), 28 percent were lower middle ($30,000$60,000), and 3 percent were lower (

Young children in recreational sports. Participation motivation.

More than 20 million children between ages 6 and 16 years participate in nonschool sports programs, with increasingly more programs being established ...
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