Achievement motivation and involvement in sport competitions

213 pupils (M = 17.2 yr.) were tested on the motive to achieve success, the motive to avoid failure, future time orientation, perceived instrumentality of cognitive and physical tasks at school, and the involvement in sport competitions. Analysis shows a significant positive correlation between the scores on motive to achieve success and the amounts of competitive involvement in sport. Conversely, the motive to avoid failure was negatively correlated with the involvement in sport. Further, a positive significant correlation for the involvement in sport competitions with perceived instrumentality of physical or sport tasks at school appeared. The relations were similar for both girls and boys. An hypothetical model based on hierarchical regression of the data showed that all independent variables affected involvement in sport competitions directly or indirectly.