An Exploratory Study of Youth Track and Field Athletes’ Participation Motivation Factors

Using the Adapted Youth Track and Field Athletes’ Participation Motivation Factors Questionnaire (AYTFAPMFQ), this study examined and analyzed the characteristics and relationships among high-school track and field (T&F) athletes’ participation motivation Factors (PMFs), and four healthy-related elements. Participants were 133 youth athletes from fifteen high-school T&F teams of New York City public schools. Data analyses involved 2x2x2x2 factorial MANOVA, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and multiple regression analyses (MRA). Results included: 1.) The top four motivation factors (MFs) were: MF3 (For a Healthier Body); MF11 (To Foster Self-Esteem); MF1(High Technical Content and Unique Value); MF2 (For Fun and Happy). These four MFs possess the highest impact on these participants’ PMs. 2.) Genders (male/female) and Supporting (by parents or by school) had significant impacts on these athletes’ PMs, but Goal-settings (‘for professional’ or ‘for non-professional’) and ‘Years engage in T&F competition’ (one to two years or three and four years) did not. 3.) Through the analyses of EFA and MRA, the characteristics and relationships among these high-school T&F athletes’ participation motivations were correlations were identified. Further, the traits of the four healthy related elements associated with their basic psychological needs were also identified, and verified these traits were predictable. Last, meaningful recommendations on how to apply these findings to youth sports education were also provided.