Impact of Motivation on Anxiety and Tactical Knowledge of Young Football Players | Original Article

ABSTRACT:

Decision-making in sports is influenced by several cognitive processes. Motivation is a behavioural variable, which consists of regulations that may be associated with sports performance. Study aimed to measure and evaluate the impact of motivation on anxiety and tactical knowledge of young football players. 100 regional players aged 12 to 18 years participated in the study. To assess motivation and anxiety, the Sport Motivation Scale II and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory two were applied. The tactical indicator was quantified by the Declarative Tactical Knowledge test. Cluster analysis was used to group individuals according to the dimensions of anxiety and tactical knowledge. A multinomial logistic regression identified the level of significance of motivation on the other variables and groups evaluated. Somatic anxiety was positively influenced by the increase in levels of integrated regulation (OR = 0.28) and negatively influenced by the increase in levels of identified regulation (OR = 3.62). Self-confidence was significantly affected by the increase in integrated regulation (OR = 4.14). In relation to tactical knowledge, it was positively influenced by integrated regulation (OR = 2.06) and by the decrease in levels of motivation, being that the more motivated individuals had a lower probability of presenting high tactical knowledge (OR = 0.35). Motivation has a significant impact on anxiety and tactical performance indicators, thus indicating the importance of the insertion of this variable in training programs.