Factors Affecting Elementary School Students' Participation in Sports

This article reviews empirical research showing that the motivation to participate in youth sport involves a relationship between the athlete, coach, and athletic environment. An athlete with high self-perceived ability to perform a skill is motivated to participate. Performance-contingent feedback from a coach who encourages an athlete's autonomous growth can create such perceptions, which can also be supported through enjoyable challenges that match equipment with skill. Athletic participation may also positively influence morals if the experience is interpersonal, participants are interdependent, and there exists an opportunity for dialogue and negotiation. Studies also show that athletic participation, when combined with school service and leadership activities, can increase academic achievement.