Date of Award

6-2011

Degree Name

MS in Kinesiology

Department/Program

Kinesiology

Advisor

Camille O'Bryant

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The Development of an Online Interactive Resource for Enhancing Motivation in Swimmers

Richard Judson Clark

Research pertaining to motivation in athletics and the link that it has to continued participation in sport is widespread. Despite the resources available, adolescents continue to drop out of sports at alarming rates. The purpose of this project was to create an online tool and resource center to enhance motivation in swimmers that participate in a year-round swim program in San Luis Obispo, California. The development of the site http://athletenet.net was created based on research linked to the Self-Determination, Cognitive Evaluation, Reversal, and Achievement Goal Theories.

Swimmers can login to the website to set a variety of goals including practice/technique goals, short-term goals, long-term goals, and dream goals. More importantly, swimmers have the option to share these goals with their coaches via the website. Additional features for swimmers include daily practice ratings, daily journals, team blog, and performance charts for practice and meet results.

The tools that have been created for the swimmers on the website are based on research that supports an athlete-directed environment in which coaches empower their athletes to define their own success. Future research could include empirical studies in which researchers examine the extent to which these interactive tools enhance intrinsic motivation and decrease dropouts among swimmers.

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