Chapter 5: Influences of Perceived Motor Competence and Motives on Children's Physical Activity.

The authors explain their research on children's motivations to participate in physical activity and the influence of perceived motor competence on participation. They refer to self-determination theory, which explains personal motivation based on competence, autonomy, and relatedness. They explain that children form perceptions of competence in certain domains, including sports, by approximately age five and that children also place value on activities by that age. They also relate social cognitive theory to the acquisition and maintenance of behavioral patterns, such as physical activity. They note that the study is based on U.S. schoolchildren, explain their data collection and analysis and the study results, and present a qualitative assessment of motives for engagement.