This study explores the relationships between, and perceptions of, various exercise motivations and exercise adherence. The application of self-determination theory to exercise motivations research has demonstrated the importance of intrinsic motivations, however, the influence of extrinsic motivations has not been thoroughly examined. This study placed exercise motive perceptions along the Organismic Integration Theory's (OIT) spectrum of motivations, and identified associations between those interpretations and exercise adherence. Participants (812 college students) completed an online survey detailing their exercise motivations and participation. The Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 (EMI-2) was used to measure exercise motivations, and participants provided open-ended explanations for their ratings of each motivational subconstruct. Total exercise scores were calculated by assigning MET values to exercise bouts using the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses revealed stress management, enjoyment, competition, and weight management as predictors of exercise, and appearance as a negative predictor for females.Analysis of the open-ended motive explanations found participants held diverse perspectives on the health, appearance, weight management, and fitness motivations. The varying interpretations of health and appearance motives ranged across the OIT. Based on motivation theory, they may be conducive to the process of internalization, meaning they may develop into more intrinsic motivations as participants achieve goals and develop a sense of value for the exercise activities. Additional patterns were identified that require further research, including a gap between genders with respect to exercise enjoyment, and the difference between weight management and appearance as predictors of exercise adherence.

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Shurley, JP, Ednie, AJ, and Rudebeck, TJ. Strength and conditioning practices of head coaches of male and female interscholastic sport teams. J Strength Cond Res 34(7): 1894–1902, 2020—In a 1989 position paper, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) recommended that male and female athletes be trained in a similar manner with regard to modalities and program design. To determine whether that recommendation is being followed, this study examined training practices of coaches of male and female athletes at the interscholastic level. Electronic surveys regarding strength training practices were distributed to head coaches of boys' football, basketball, soccer, and baseball and girls' volleyball, basketball, soccer, and softball in the states of Texas and Wisconsin. Overall, 85% of coaches (n = 85) reported that they require their athletes to strength train. There was no difference in whether strength training was required based on athlete sex (X2 = 0.16, df = 1, p = 0.69) or the sex of the coach (X2 = 0.63, df = 1, p = 0.43). The majority (67%) of teams strength trained once weekly during the season and 21% trained twice weekly. In the off-season, only 12% of teams trained once weekly, whereas 44% of teams strength trained 2 times per week and 29% 3 times weekly. The most common types of lift performed for both sexes were “bodyweight exercises,” followed by “dumbbell presses,” bench press, back squats, and front squats. Both female and male athletes trained most commonly at 4–8 repetition and 9–12 repetition ranges. In contrast to previous studies and in accordance with the NSCA recommendation, it seems that the high school coaches surveyed in this work largely train male and female athletes in a similar fashion with regard to training frequency, intensity, and modalities.

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