Motivation is simply defined as the direction and intensity of one’s effort (Sage, 1977).

• Direction of Effort: The direction of effort refers to whether an individual seeks out, approaches, or is attracted to certain situation. For example, a high school student may be motivated to go out for the tennis team, coach to attend a coaching clinic, a businesswoman join an aerobics class, or an injured athlete to seek medical treatment.
• Intensity of Effort: The intensity of effort refers to how much effort a person puts forth in a particular situation. For instance, a student may attend physical education class (approach a situation) but not put fort much effort during class. On the other hand, a golfer may want to make a winning putt so badly that he becomes overly motivated, tightens up, and performs poorly. Finally, a weightlifter may work out 4 days a week like her friends, yet differ from them in terms of the tremendous effort of intensity she puts into each workout.

The relationship between direction and intensity is appropriate for discussion purposes and conceptualization of characteristics responsible for influencing motivating states. For most people they will not see any difference between them.

To enhance motivation you must analyze and respond not to a player’s personality but also to the interaction of personal and situational characteristics.

• Trait-centered View: (also called the participant-centered view) This view contends that motivated behavior is primarily a function of individual characteristics. That is that personality, needs, and goals of an athlete are the primary determinants of motivated behavior. Thus, coaches often describe an athlete as a “real winner” implying that the individual has a personal makeup that allows him to excel in sport. Similarly, another athlete may be described as a “loser.”
• Situation-centered View: In contrast to the above, contends that motivation level is determined primarily by situation. For example, an athlete may be motivated in aerobic exercise but unmotivated in competitive sport.
• Interactional View: This view of motivation is most widely endorsed by sport psychologists and refers to the participant- by-situation interaction. “Inter-actionists” contend that motivation results neither solely from participant factors, such as personality, needs, interests, and goals, nor solely from situational factor, such as a coach’s or teacher’s style.

• Both situations and traits motivate people
• People have multiple motives for involvement
• Change the environment to enhance motivation
• Leaders influence motivation
• Use behavior modification to change undesirable participant motives