M. Newton et Jl. Duda, ELITE ADOLESCENT ATHLETES ACHIEVEMENT GOALS AND BELIEFS CONCERNING SUCCESS IN TENNIS, Journal of sport & exercise psychology, 15(4), 1993, pp. 437-448
The present study examined the perceived causes of success among elite
adolescent tennis players and investigated the function of gender in
the interdependence of goal orientation and beliefs concerning tennis
achievement. Male and female adolescents (N = 121) completed the Task
and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ) specific to tennis
and a questionnaire tapping beliefs about success in this sport. Facto
r analyses revealed two conceptually coherent personal goal-belief dim
ensions for the females. The first was comprised of ego orientation an
d the beliefs that ability and maintaining a positive impression were
the primary causes of success. The second consisted of a task orientat
ion coupled with the belief that effort and a de-emphasis on external
factors and deceptive tactics would lead to tennis accomplishment. In
the case of males, an ego goal-belief dimension emerged. The motivatio
nal implications of assuming these differing goal-beliefs in youth spo
rt is discussed.