Drop-out and beginning motives in sports

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the main differences in athlete’s motivation  related to age, gender, sports, time of practice and competition level.  The sample was composed by 385 athletes from different sports, age between 16 and 30 years.. The MIMCA-BR Questionnaire (Carmo et al, 2007) was used comparing the motives for beginning and drop-out. Student “t” test for independent samples was used to compare means (p<0,05). Significant differences related to gender (in both scales) was found in the following questions; “overcome myself” and “to maintain my shape”; related to the age, “enjoy myself” and “not to obtain the results I wish” appeared as reasons. Comparing different sports, it was found differences in  “having friends who practice the sport” and “not materialize dreams as athlete” are more common in team and individual sports; “hasn’t physical conditions” and “hasn’ federative support” are more significant for drop-out in athlete of regional level. It can be concluded that there are differences in beginning and drop-out reasons among athletes comparing gender, age, sports and level of practice. Motivational differences regarding time of practices had not been found.