Patterns of achievement-motivated behavior and performance as predictors for future success in rowing: A person-oriented study

Abstract

Talent selection in rowing is often solely based on anthropometric and performance variables, even though psychological characteristics are considered to be important contributors to successful talent development. Because multidimensional talent models and holistic theories represent the state-of-the-art in talent research, we aimed to find patterns connecting psychological and performance variables to future success in rowing. Therefore, 22 coaches rated the achievement-motivated behavior represented by the variables proactivity, ambition and commitment of 65 competitive to high-level athletes ( Mage = 17.2 ± 1.55 years) for the past year (t1). Additionally, the athletes performed several 2,000 m ergometer tests during that same period. At t2 (30 months later), each rower’s performance was evaluated based on the success at different competitions. To examine the results, we used the person-oriented Linking of Clusters after removal of a Residue (LICUR) method to identify the relationships between the achievement-motivated behavior and ergometer results at t1 and the success at t2. The rowers could be assigned to five clusters. Although the highly motivated rowers were not the fastest on the ergometer at t1, they were more likely to be in highest performance level at t2 compared to the other clusters (OR = 3.5, p < .05). By contrast, all the ambitionless rowers and unmotivated rowers were either racing at national level or had dropped out. In conclusion, certain patterns of achievement-motivated behavior and current performance are associated with future success (30 months later). The consideration of achievement-motivated behavior in the selection of rowers seems promising in this context.

More Success With the Optimal Motivational Pattern? A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Young Athletes in Individual Sports

“…Therefore, it is recommended not to use self-reporting questionnaires for talent identification but only for talent development. In order to consider achievement motivation in the talent identification and selection process, an external rating scale for the assessment of the achievement-motivated behavior could be used ( Schmid et al, 2020 ; Zuber et al, 2020 ).…”

A career handbook for professional soccer players

“…It is also interesting to see how psychology affects performance in terms of success. Schmid et al 25 found patterns in rowing by connecting these variables. They measured the proactivity, ambition, and commitment of the athletes: if a highly motivated rower had poor performance in the recent past, it was more likely that he or she performed at a high level in the future, but athletes with low morale and motivation were more likely to drop out or perform weaker.…”

“…They measured the proactivity, ambition, and commitment of the athletes: if a highly motivated rower had poor performance in the recent past, it was more likely that he or she performed at a high level in the future, but athletes with low morale and motivation were more likely to drop out or perform weaker. 25 Highly achievement-oriented players have a better chance to accomplish an outstanding career. 26 Due to the lack of input data, we have not used psychological features in our model.…”

Construction and validation of the German coach-rating scale to assess achievement-motivated behavior in team sports (AMBIS-T)

“…18,19 The AMBIS-I featured adequate psychometric properties to assess achievement-motivated behavior in individual sports for the population studied (e.g., CFI = 1.00; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = .001; test-retest reliability r tt >.70 for all three scales; differentiation with small to medium effects (0.30 < d < 0.62) between two performance groups as a measure for concurrent criterion validity) 1 and was found to predict performance levels of youth rowers longitudinally over a period of 30 months. 20 In contrast to the AMBIS-I target group, the recent scientific literature in talent research was predominantly focused on team sports, soccer in particular 21 and not on individual sports. Additionally, a plethora of research studies in the field of predictive psychological and motivational characteristics have been conducted in team sports (see review in 17 ).…”

“…18,19 The AMBIS-I featured adequate psychometric properties to assess achievement-motivated behavior in individual sports for the population studied (e.g., CFI = 1.00; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = .001; test–retest reliability r tt >.70 for all three scales; differentiation with small to medium effects (0.30 < d < 0.62) between two performance groups as a measure for concurrent criterion validity) 1 and was found to predict performance levels of youth rowers longitudinally over a period of 30 months. 20…”