TY - JOUR
T1 - Sport commitment and participation in masters swimmers
T2 - The influence of coach and teammates
AU - Santi, Giampaolo
AU - Bruton, Adam
AU - Pietrantoni, Luca
AU - Mellalieu, Stephen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014, © 2014 European College of Sport Science.
PY - 2014/5/15
Y1 - 2014/5/15
N2 - Abstract: This study investigated how coach and teammates influence masters athletes' sport commitment, and the effect of functional and obligatory commitments on participation in masters swimming. The sample consisted of 523 masters swimmers (330 males and 193 females) aged between 22 and 83 years (M = 39.00, SD = 10.42). A bi-dimensional commitment scale was used to measure commitment dimensions and perceived influence from social agents. Structural equation modelling analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of social agents on functional and obligatory commitments, and the predictive capabilities of the two types of commitment towards sport participation. Support provided by coach and teammates increased functional commitment, constraints from these social agents determined higher obligatory commitment, and coach constraints negatively impacted functional commitment. In addition, both commitment types predicted training participation, with functional commitment increasing participation in team training sessions, and obligatory commitment increasing the hours of individual training. The findings suggest that in order to increase participation in masters swimming teams and reduce non-supervised training, coach and teammates should exhibit a supportive attitude and avoid over expectation.
AB - Abstract: This study investigated how coach and teammates influence masters athletes' sport commitment, and the effect of functional and obligatory commitments on participation in masters swimming. The sample consisted of 523 masters swimmers (330 males and 193 females) aged between 22 and 83 years (M = 39.00, SD = 10.42). A bi-dimensional commitment scale was used to measure commitment dimensions and perceived influence from social agents. Structural equation modelling analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of social agents on functional and obligatory commitments, and the predictive capabilities of the two types of commitment towards sport participation. Support provided by coach and teammates increased functional commitment, constraints from these social agents determined higher obligatory commitment, and coach constraints negatively impacted functional commitment. In addition, both commitment types predicted training participation, with functional commitment increasing participation in team training sessions, and obligatory commitment increasing the hours of individual training. The findings suggest that in order to increase participation in masters swimming teams and reduce non-supervised training, coach and teammates should exhibit a supportive attitude and avoid over expectation.
KW - Sport commitment
KW - functional commitment
KW - masters swimming
KW - obligatory commitment
KW - social support
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84919863017&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17461391.2014.915990
DO - 10.1080/17461391.2014.915990
M3 - Article
C2 - 24826953
AN - SCOPUS:84919863017
SN - 1746-1391
VL - 14
SP - 852
EP - 860
JO - European Journal of Sport Science
JF - European Journal of Sport Science
IS - 8
ER -