Life Sciences Commons^™

Effect Of Staged Practices And Motivational Climate On Goal Orientation And Sportsmanship In Community Youth Sport Experiences, Mary Sara Wells, Gary D. Ellis, Skye G. Arthur-Banning, Mark F. Roark

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Significant acts of poor sportsmanship and aggression are becoming increasingly prevalent in youth sports. Youth who have negative experiences as a result of witnessing or being directly involved in such poor sportsmanship experiences are less likely to participate in future sport activities, thereby contributing to sedentary lifestyles and a number of health related problems. Goal orientation theory provides a basis for understanding why many of these unsporting acts may occur. “Task-oriented” participants focus on their intra-individual growth and development in sports and tend to be much less involved in aggression and poor sportsmanship. In contrast, “Egooriented” participants judge success in …