Sources of sport confidence identified by Thai youth athletes: Sex and type of sport

Abstract

Background: The Sport confidence is an important to success in sport competition. Therefore, the search to source of sport confidence to appropriate for gender and type of sport can build up the self – confidence for athletes.

Objectives: The purpose of this research were to study and contrast the source of sport confidence of Thai youth athletes between sex and type.

Method:  Subjects in this study were to 144 Thai youth athletes and were aged between 10 and 18 years. (Male = 75, Female = 69) The athletes who participated in this study consisted of sepak takraw, volleyball, swimming, track and field, taekwondo, badminton, golf, basketball, and gymnastic.

Instruments and procedure: All subjects completed the source of sport confidence questionnaire, which was written in Thai (41 items), was developedby Supatcharin and Naruepon (2008). The source of sport confidence questionnaire consisted of 41 items in 9 factors; mastery, demonstration of ability, physical and mental preparation, physical self - presentation, social support, coaches’ leadership, vicarious experience, environment comfort, and situation favorableness.

Statistics: Data were analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, percentage, t-test independent, and cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Significance was tested at the 0.05 level.

Result:

1. The source of sport confidence of athletes score were sorted from highest to lowest priority,

coaches’ leadership, social support, vicarious experience, mastery, environment comfort, physical and mental preparation, demonstration of ability, physical self - presentation, and situation favorableness.

II. The source of sport confidence in the factor of physical and mental preparation, and situation favorableness of the male and female were significant difference at 0.05.

1. The source of sport confidence in the factor of physical self - presentation and coaches’ leadership of the team athletes and individual athletes were significant difference at 0.05.

Keyword: Source of sport confidence, Youth athletes

E-mail: s.kemarat@gmail.com