*PEEL – Solution is structured using separate PEEL methods for each side of the argument; [P] Identify the point, [E] expand on the point with a link to question asked, [Ev] apply evidence/examples, [L] linking sentence back to question.

Intrinsic motivation is more sustainable for long-term participation:

• [P] Intrinsic motivation self-perpetuates through internal satisfaction.
• [E] Athletes continue participating because they enjoy the activity itself, regardless of external rewards.
• [Ev] Masters swimmers train daily for decades simply because they love being in the water.
• [L] Therefore, intrinsic motivation provides sustainable drive for long-term sport involvement.
   
• [P] Internal motivation promotes deeper skill development.
• [E] Athletes focus on mastering techniques for personal satisfaction rather than prizes.
• [Ev] Rock climbers spend years perfecting routes purely for the challenge and accomplishment.
• [L] This self-directed improvement maintains lifelong engagement in sport.

Extrinsic motivation can support participation in some cases:

• [P] External rewards effectively initiate sport participation.
• [E] Prizes and recognition attract beginners who later develop intrinsic motivation.
• [Ev] Children start playing soccer for trophies but continue as adults for enjoyment.
• [L] Thus, extrinsic motivation serves as a gateway to long-term participation.
   
• [P] Some athletes thrive on external validation throughout careers.
• [E] Professional athletes maintain high performance driven by contracts and sponsorships.
• [Ev] Olympic athletes train intensively for medals and national recognition for decades.
• [L] Therefore, extrinsic motivation can sustain participation when rewards remain meaningful and achievable.

Sample Answer 

• Task orientation reflects intrinsic motivation where athletes focus on skill mastery and personal improvement, which leads to sustained effort regardless of competitive outcomes.
• This approach results in athletes evaluating their performance against personal standards and previous achievements, maintaining motivation through visible improvement rather than competitive ranking.
• In contrast, ego orientation aligns with extrinsic motivation where success is defined by outperforming others or achieving external recognition.
• Consequently, this orientation can undermine persistence when winning becomes unlikely, as athletes may avoid valuable development opportunities that risk failure.
• Therefore, ego-oriented athletes tend to select competitions where success is guaranteed when confidence is low, limiting their long-term growth potential because they prioritise outcomes over skill development.

Sample Answer 

• Negative motivation creates immediate psychological pressure during competition. This leads to athletes focusing on avoiding failure rather than achieving success, which results in indecision and risk aversion.
• The fear associated with negative approaches causes reduced creativity in performance. Athletes default to safe, predictable strategies because they prioritise avoiding punishment over optimal execution.
• Performance anxiety increases when athletes are motivated by threats or criticism. Consequently, physical symptoms like muscle tension develop that directly impair technical skills and decision-making abilities.
• While negative motivation may produce short-term improvements, sustained use erodes athlete confidence over time. The underlying reason is that constant fear undermines self-belief and creates a destructive cycle of declining performance.
• Long-term participation suffers because intrinsic enjoyment becomes diminished. Athletes are more likely to discontinue sport when external pressures are removed, as they have learned to associate performance with avoiding consequences rather than personal satisfaction.

Sample Answer

Overview Statement

• Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors interact with athlete development through complementary rather than competing roles.
• The key components include initial engagement, skill development reinforcement and long-term participation sustainability. These components connect to create optimal motivational environments at different developmental stages.

Component Relationship 1

• Extrinsic rewards effectively initiate participation during early developmental stages while coaches simultaneously nurture intrinsic enjoyment.
• Swimming programmes using skill progression badges (extrinsic) while emphasising personal swimming enjoyment (intrinsic) achieve greater retention rates than single-approach methods.
• This relationship shows how external and internal motivations work together rather than replacing each other during beginner phases.

Component Relationship 2

• As athletes progress, well-designed extrinsic recognition can strengthen intrinsic motivation when highlighting personal growth rather than outcomes.
• Basketball coaches praising decision-making quality regardless of shot success increases players’ love for strategic thinking.
• However, over-reliance on external rewards damages intrinsic drive, as junior tennis players paid for wins often quit when scholarships end while those playing for enjoyment continue.

Implications and Synthesis

• The significance is that effective motivation requires intrinsic foundation with strategic extrinsic elements throughout development.
• Marathon runners train for personal satisfaction but use prize money as extra motivation for specific races.
• Therefore, optimal participation occurs when intrinsic motivation dominates while extrinsic factors complement without controlling, creating sustainable engagement across all developmental stages.

Sample Answer 

• Intrinsic motivation is self-sustaining as it generates satisfaction from the activity itself, enabling athletes to continue participation even without external recognition or rewards.
• Athletes who are intrinsically motivated focus on personal improvement and competence development, which creates an ongoing cycle of challenge and achievement that sustains interest.
• Because intrinsic motivation is tied to enjoyment of the process rather than outcomes, it creates resilience that helps athletes persevere through setbacks or plateaus in performance.

Sample Answer 

• Coaches can provide verbal praise and recognition when athletes perform skills correctly, which reinforces desired behaviours and builds confidence. This leads to athletes feeling valued and appreciated, encouraging continued participation through positive emotional responses.
• Creating visual progress charts demonstrates skill development and provides tangible evidence of improvement. As a result, athletes become motivated to continue striving for measurable goals because they can see their advancement.
• Implementing achievement recognition systems such as “player of the match” awards acknowledges effort and skill development. Therefore, these external rewards create a desire for continued participation as athletes seek further recognition and validation.
• Facilitating supportive spectator environments generates positive crowd feedback that enhances performance satisfaction. Consequently, this external reinforcement strengthens athletes’ enjoyment and increases their participation desire.

Sample Answer 

• Positive motivation involves performing well because of rewards or positive reinforcement, such as praise from a coach or feeling good about improvement, creating a sustainable drive for participation.
• Negative motivation occurs when athletes perform to avoid negative consequences, such as being dropped from a team or criticised, which can undermine confidence and creativity.
• While both motivational types may produce short-term performance improvements, positive motivation is generally more effective for sustained participation as it builds confidence rather than fear of failure.