CONTEXTUAL INFLUENCES AND GOAL PERSPECTIVES AMONG FEMALE YOUTH SPORT PARTICIPANTS

This study investigated two research questions: (1) do goal involvemen t and state anxiety vary between athletic games and athletic practices ? and (2) do goal orientations change over the course of a competitive season as a function of the perceived team motivational climate? Midd le school athletes (n = 127) were assessed on goal orientations, goal involvement, state anxiety, and motivational climate. Results indicate d that athletes were mom task involved and less anxious in practice th an In game situations, and task goal orientation changed over the seas on relative to perceptions of mastery and performance climates. These results may indicate that sport offers an environment different from t he academic setting and that mainstream psychology theories need to be adapted for the sport context.