Motivation: Motivation.

The idea

Motivation is the internal and external drive that initiates, directs and sustains behaviour towards a goal. Intrinsic motivation comes from within the performer, such as enjoyment, satisfaction or the desire to master a skill, and it tends to support long-term participation. Extrinsic motivation comes from external rewards or pressures. Extrinsic rewards can be tangible (physical items you can touch, such as trophies, medals or money) or intangible (non-physical rewards, such as praise, applause, records or selection). Extrinsic motivation can raise effort in the short term. Coaches often combine both types, using extrinsic rewards to build initial engagement while developing intrinsic interest. Over-reliance on extrinsic rewards can reduce intrinsic motivation, so the balance matters.

What earns the marks

• Motivation is the internal and external drive that initiates, directs and sustains goal-directed behaviour.
• Intrinsic motivation arises from within the performer, for example enjoyment, satisfaction, mastery or personal challenge.
• Extrinsic motivation arises from external rewards or pressures, which can be tangible or intangible.
• Tangible rewards are physical, for example trophies, medals, certificates or money.
• Intangible rewards are non-physical, for example praise, applause, selection or national records.
• Intrinsic motivation is generally associated with longer-term participation and persistence, while extrinsic rewards can raise effort in the short term.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating intrinsic and extrinsic motivation as opposites that cannot coexist.

  Put it right: Most performers experience both at the same time.

• Assuming extrinsic rewards always increase motivation.

  Put it right: They can reduce intrinsic interest if the performer begins to act only for the reward.

• Confusing tangible and intangible rewards.

  Put it right: Tangible rewards are physical objects (medals), whereas intangible rewards are non-physical (praise).

• Believing that motivation is fixed.

  Put it right: It is dynamic and can be raised or lowered by success, feedback, environment and goal setting.

Exam tips

• Classify the source of the drive as internal or external before choosing an answer, because the intrinsic and extrinsic labels depend on where the drive originates.
• When identifying extrinsic motivation, check if the question requires you to distinguish between tangible (physical) and intangible (non-physical) rewards.
• Use a concrete example such as playing for enjoyment or playing for a trophy to test each option against the definition.