THE IMPACT OF INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC MOTIVATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL, SKILL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Abstract

This paper investigates the differential impact of intrinsic motivation (IM) and extrinsic motivation (EM) on the performance domains of professional football players: physical, skill-based, and psychological. Drawing on a narrative review and synthesis of empirical findings from recent literature, the study confirms that while EM (e.g., financial rewards, recognition) can yield short-term performance gains, IM (e.g., passion, enjoyment, self-determination) is fundamentally linked to sustained high performance, long-term commitment, and psychological resilience [1]. Empirical evidence from studies on elite football players demonstrates a significant correlation between high competence and intrinsic factors like passion [4]. Furthermore, the absence of motivation (amotivation) is shown to be a major predictor of stress and burnout [6]. The findings underscore the critical need for professional football organizations to adopt coaching strategies that cultivate IM to ensure optimal and sustained athlete development