A taxonomy of athletic values and implications for clinical practice

Area of Science:

• Sport Psychology
• Athletic Performance
• Value-Based Frameworks

Background:

• Sport psychology practices aim to enhance athletic performance and sustained excellence.
• Understanding athletes' value hierarchies is crucial for effective psychological interventions.
• Previous research identified 30 empirically derived athletic values.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey collegiate student-athletes on the perceived importance of 30 athletic values.
• To inform the development of value-driven sport psychological practices.
• To identify potential differences in value perception across demographic groups.

Main Methods:

• Survey administered to 162 student-athletes at a private Midwestern NCAA Division 1 university.
• Participants sorted and rated 30 athletic values based on perceived importance for performance and excellence.
• Data collected from student-athletes across various sports and backgrounds.

Main Results:

• A clear hierarchy of athletic values was established, with intrinsic values ranked highest.
• Intrinsic values are deemed most important for athletic performance and sustained excellence.
• Minimal significant differences in value perception were observed across gender, ethnicity, and sport classification.

Conclusions:

• The study's findings support the integration of value-based frameworks in sport psychology.
• Prioritizing intrinsic values can enhance the effectiveness of applied sport psychological practices.
• Results provide empirical evidence for tailoring interventions to athletes' core values.