Motivation, Will, Goal Setting and the Growth of Sportsmanship of Middle and Long Distance Runners

The article presents the results of a study aimed at analyzing the characteristics of the psychological organization of sports activities of middle and long distances runners. Based on a level analysis of sports activities, a questionnaire was developed and used to collect data to assess the characteristics of motivation, volitional and intentional-arbitrary goal-setting among athletes. Standardized methods were also used: “a questionnaire to identify the severity of self-control in the emotional sphere, activity and behavior”; “Scale of control over the action” by J. Kuhl; methods of self-assessment of the volitional qualities of a person; “The test of meaningful life orientations.” Calculations were made of the rank correlation between indicators on questionnaire scales and the level of sportsmanship in female and male samples. Significant directions of changes in motivation, goal-setting and volitional qualities in female and male samples were identified, as- sociated with the improvement of sports qualifications.

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