The factors of motivation were classified as competition/excitement, appearance, physical health improvement, fun/enjoyment, socializing, mood and stress coping, competence/skill, weight management, and muscle improvement. Findings concluded that regardless of gender, physical health/improvement and fun/enjoyment were rated as the most critical motivating factors for participation. The appearance factor was significant to the girls participating in athletics, and the factors were shown to rank as follows. 1. Physical health improvement, 2. Fun/enjoyment, 3. Muscle improvement, 4. Mood and stress coping, 5. Appearance, 6. Competence/skill, 7. Weight management, 8. Socializing, and 9. Competition/excitement. Based on these findings, athletic administrators should recognize the factors that motivate the female population to participate in athletics and educate the coaches on strategies to capitalize on that knowledge. The glaring difference in motivation in comparison to males is interesting. Male motivation revealed competition/excitement was a major factor, whereas, females showed this factor was minimal. These results tend to agree with previous research as competition has long been regarded as a masculine trait (Koivula, …show more content…
Duda examined the relationship between an athlete’s goal perspective and the perceived purpose of sport from both males and females. Duda dissects the purpose into ego orientation, doing their best and self-esteem, task orientation, skill mastery, and self improvement. Analyzing the results of the female study reveal that females are significantly task oriented contrary to the males who are higher in ego orientation (Duda, 1989). While the goal perspective is task oriented, meaning females believe sports should enhance one’s competitiveness and ability to cooperate and work hard, the ego orientation aspect of Duda’s study reveals female athletes relate sports to one’s social status, career status, and self-esteem. Duda’s study provided a quantitative scale of comparison between ego and task orientation by classification. Those classifications were labeled: 1. Mastery/cooperation, 2. Active lifestyle, 3. Good citizen, 4. Competitiveness, 5. High career status, 6. Enhance self-esteem, and 7. Enhance social status. The date for ego orientation demonstrates a high probability female athletes relate sports to enhancing their competitiveness, social status, and self-esteem. On the other hand, results for task orientation show females believe the purpose of sport is to improve mastery of their particular sport, improving self-esteem, and promoting an active