ATHLETIC IDENTITY - HERCULES MUSCLES OR ACHILLES HEEL

Athletic identity can be defined as the degree to which an individual identifies with the athlete role. In this article, the athletic identi ty construct is discussed within the framework of a multidimensional s elf-concept. Positive and negative factors that are potentially associ ated with a strong athletic identity are considered. A measure of athl etic identity, the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), is intr oduced. Data from an initial evaluation study (n = 243) and two follow -up studies (n = 449 and n = 90) suggest that the AIMS is a reliable a nd valid measure of athletic identity. Implications for future researc h and application with the AIMS are presented.