ABSTRACT
Motivation plays a crucial if somewhat misunderstood role in sport. Arsène Wenger claims that the fear is incompatible with peak performance. This chapter focuses on the nature and types of motivation that are evident among athletes. It presents a brief overview of theoretical approaches to motivation in sport psychology. The chapter also discusses the three influential cognitive models of motivational processes in athletes: achievement goal theory, attribution theory and self-determination theory. It explores the theory and practice of increasing motivation in athletes through goal-setting techniques. The chapter then examines a motivational question that has attracted popular debate: why do some people take part in risky or dangerous sports activities? It provides some practical suggestions for possible research projects on the psychology of motivation in athletes. The National Coaching Foundation presented an apocryphal tale that nicely captures the idea that the withdrawal of rewards can sometimes change people's motivation in surprising ways.
