Older Athletes’ Perceived Benefits of Competition

Exploring the Context of Coached Masters Swim Programs: A Narrative Approach

“…Further, swimmers in each profile cited striving and challenge motives. These results align with research showing MAs are highly task or mastery oriented (Young, 2011), that MAs like to regularly test and assess themselves (Dionigi et al, 2011;Medic, 2009), and that opportunities for personal goal fulfillment are associated with Masters' sport commitment (Vallerand & Young, 2014).…”

“…Sociallyoriented swimmers epitomized notions of social affiliation marked by a desire to establish mutual connections so that they felt like they belonged in this social milieu. They wanted to meet new people who shared a common interest, a sentiment previously reported by MAs (e.g., Dionigi et al, 2011;McIntyre et al, 1992). Striving-oriented swimmers were also interested in meeting others, but for more task-related purposes.…”

“…Research has shown MAs believe their sport commitment is reinforced by the inherent enjoyment they experience (Casper, Gray, & Babkes Stellino, 2007;Dionigi, Horton, & Baker, 2013) and the opportunities afforded from sport involvement (Casper et al, 2007;Dionigi, Baker, & Horton, 2011;Young & Medic, 2011a). Precisely, athletes believe sport allows them to travel to new places (Hritz & Ramos, 2008), establish and maintain friendships with likeminded individuals (Dionigi et al, 2011;Hodge, Allen, & Smellie, 2008), and prevent aging by preserving their fitness and independence (Dionigi, 2006).…”

“…Precisely, athletes believe sport allows them to travel to new places (Hritz & Ramos, 2008), establish and maintain friendships with likeminded individuals (Dionigi et al, 2011;Hodge, Allen, & Smellie, 2008), and prevent aging by preserving their fitness and independence (Dionigi, 2006). Finally, many adults use sport to redefine themselves as athletes, to seek personal challenges, for goal fulfillment, and to experience competition (Dionigi et al, 2013;Stevenson, 2002;Vallerand & Young, 2014).…”

“…Masters Swimming, 2014). Further, much of the recent research on Masters sport, be it quantitative (e.g., Cardenas, Henderson, & Wilson, 2009;Hodge et al, 2008;Santi, Bruton, Pietrantoni, & Mellalieu, 2014;Young, de Jong, & Medic, 2014) or qualitative (Dionigi, Horton, & Baker, 2010;Dionigi et al, 2011;Grant, 2001) has been conducted in or around large-scale events (e.g., World Masters championships, Seniors Games), with very little in-depth research being conducted on athletes in the process of preparing for these events. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore prevalent psycho-social conditions at play in day-to-day coached Masters swim programs through the examination of Masters swimmers lived experiences within this setting.…”