Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences · Published 2026-02-19 · DOI 10.5604/01.3001.0055.6411
Background: This article assumes that junior football competitions are the most demanding for players, as they represent the final stage before moving up to the senior level. The aim of this article is therefore to gain insight into the internal motivation of junior football players aged 18–20. Methods: A total of 150 football players from Lower Silesia, Poland, were examined in three age groups: junior category A2 (aged 18, n = 50), junior category A1 (aged 19, n = 50) and under 21 U21 (aged 20, n = 50). The Intrinsic Drive Questionnaire was used. The level of significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: Junior A2 players (M = 73.70; SD = 7.82) demonstrated significantly greater intrinsic motivation than both junior A1 players (M = 68.12; SD = 10.19) and U21 players (M = 65.42; SD = 12.08). However, there was no significant difference between A1 juniors and U21 players. Conclusions: Eighteen-year-old football players have significantly higher intrinsic motivation than nineteen- and twenty-yearolds. Nineteen- and twenty-year-old football players have intrinsic motivation at a similar level. Nevertheless, all three groups demonstrated high levels of intrinsic motivation.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
Read the article at the publisher →