Dropping in and dropping out: participation motives of current and former youth gymnasts.

Abstract

This study examined motives for participating in and discontinuing sport for 106 competitive, recreational, and former youth gymnasts. Similar to previous studies on participation motives in children's sport, gymnasts cited multiple reasons for their attraction to sport with the most important being competence, fitness, and challenge for the competitive gymnasts; competence, fitness, fun and situational for the recreational gymnasts; and competence, action, challenge and fun for the former gymnasts. A factor analysis was conducted and revealed seven categories of motivational factors, similar to those found by Gill et al. (1983). No support was found for a relationship between motives for gymnastic participation and reasons for attrition. The most important reasons for leaving gymnastics were having other things to do, injuries, not liking the pressure, not having enough fun, and too time consuming.