Goal Orientation And Beliefs About Success In Age Group Swimmers

Abstract

Determining a swimmer’s goal orientation and what they believe makes them successful can help coaches create better workouts and outcome measures in young athletes. PURPOSE: Goal orientation (task vs ego) and success beliefs (effort, deception, ability and external factors) were examined in age group swimmers to determine if achievement theory differed by age. METHODS: Eighty (N=80), 11-18 year old USA Swimming club members, completed the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ) and the Beliefs About the Causes of Sport Success Questionnaire (BACSSQ). Parent consent and child assent was obtained. Regression and multivariate analyses were used to examine differences between age groups. RESULTS: Athletes with Ego orientation had significant positive relationships with ability and deception as beliefs about the causes of sport success (Wilks’ Λ = 0.010, F(6, 69) = 1,195, p<0.001 and p<0.05 for age categories, subsequent post hoc tests reached p<0.05 for significance). Those with Task orientation had a positive relationship with higher effort and negative relationship with deception as a belief about the cause of sport success. Age comparisons showed 13-14 and 15-18 year old age groups had significantly higher ego orientation than the 11-12 age group, the 15-18 age group having a significantly lower task orientation than both the 11-12 and 13-14 age groups. The 13-14 age group attributed deception to success in swimming significantly more than the 11-12 age group. CONCLUSION: Older swimmers develop a higher ego orientation and lower task orientation due to more visible differences in ability and an increased focus on performance.