Abstract
Background: Athlete motivation and sustained engagement are essential for retention in collegiate sports programs; however, the institutional and environmental factors that influence these outcomes remain underexplored.
Objectives: This study aimed to examine the determinants of athlete motivation and engagement in collegiate team sports using a Self-Determination Theory perspective, with engagement serving as a proxy for retention behavior.
Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed involving 75 collegiate student-athletes representing basketball, volleyball (men and women), baseball, and softball teams. Quantitative data were collected using a validated, researcher-developed questionnaire based on Self-Determination Theory and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, multiple regression, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). In contrast, qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: Findings revealed that organizational commitment (M = 3.42) and environmental support (M = 3.47) were rated very high, while incentives and facilities were rated high. All program components were significantly associated with athlete engagement (p < .05). Regression analysis showed that environmental support (β = .36) and perceived support (β = .31) were the strongest predictors, explaining 68% of the variance (R² = 0.68). SEM results indicated a good model fit (CFI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.061).
Conclusions: Qualitative findings highlighted intrinsic motivations, such as passion and belonging, as well as extrinsic motivators, including scholarships and rewards, alongside barriers, including financial delays, academic conflicts, and burnout. The study concludes that environmental and perceived support are the primary determinants of athlete engagement, emphasizing the critical role of competence-supportive environments in sustaining motivation and improving athlete retention.
Keywords:
ARTICLE INFORMATION
LICENSE
Copyright (c) 2026 Teejay D. Panganiban, Samboy Nabor
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
HOW TO CITE
Panganiban, T. D. , & Nabor, S. (2026). Determinants of athlete motivation and engagement in collegiate team sports: Toward a sports development framework. Physical Education and Sports: Studies and Research, 5(1), 147-159. https://doi.org/10.56003/pessr.v5i1.718
DOWNLOADS
References
Akines, S. A., & Akines, S. A. (2024). Family and Coach Support on Motivation and Performance in Adolescent Athletes: A Systematic Review. Majalah Ilmiah Fisioterapi Indonesia, 13(3), 575–579. https://doi.org/10.24843/mifi.000000377
Alkasasbeh, W. J., & Akroush, S. (2025). Sports motivation: a narrative review of psychological approaches to enhance athletic performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1645274
Askilashvili G. Meta-Analyses of Motivation Among Male and Female Handball Players. PsyArXiv; 2025. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/jdr6y_v1
Batucan, H.J., Panganiban, T.D., Salaguste, K.M.C., Gabunilas, J.M.C., Manimtim, R.M., Cumal, J.I.V., … Lobo, J. (2025). The crucial role of perceived control in adolescent athletes’ success: A commitment study in the Philippines. Sportis. Scientific Journal of School Sport, Physical Education and Psychomotricity , 11 (2), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2025.11.2.11656
Batucan, H. J. S., Panganiban, T. D., Rojales, F. H., Hanief, Y. N., Gabunilas, J. M. C. M., Cruz, L. A. D., ... & Lalog, R. C. N. (2025). Mediating role of sports emotions in implicit beliefs and mental toughness among athletes. Sportis. Scientific Journal of School Sport, Physical Education and Psychomotricity, 11(3), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2025.11.3.11863
Bergström, M., Jong, M., & Sæther, S. A. (2021). Orienteering from Cradle to Grave—How a Sport Could Offer Lifelong Participation. The Social Sciences, 10(5), 146. https://doi.org/10.3390/SOCSCI10050146
Choi, J., & Smith, A. (2024). NCAA Division I Collegiate Athletes’ Motivational Perspectives Pertaining to their Academic and Athletic Roles. Journal of Athlete Development and Experience, 6(2), 4. https://doi.org/10.25035/jade.06.02.04
De Francisco, C., Sánchez-Romero, E. I., Vílchez Conesa, M. del P., & Arce, C. (2020). Basic Psychological Needs, Burnout and Engagement in Sport: The Mediating Role of Motivation Regulation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(14), 4941. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH17144941
Dénarié, A. (2023). Self-Determination Theory Applied to Sport (pp. 701-C34P133). Oxford University Press eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197600047.013.35
Edris, R., Castillano, B. D., Burgos, L. M., & Salon, C. F. (2025). Describing the bachelor of physical education students’ participation in sports. International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health, 12(1), 27–28. https://doi.org/10.22271/kheljournal.2025.v12.i1a.3625
Eys, M., Beauchamp, M. R., Godfrey, M., Dawson, K., Loughead, T. M., & Schinke, R. J. (2020). Role commitment and acceptance in a sport context. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 42(2), 89-101. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2019-0057
Graña, M., De Francisco, C., & Arce, C. (2021). The Relationship between Motivation and Burnout in Athletes and the Mediating Role of Engagement. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9), 4884. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH18094884
Kang, S., Alaeddini, A., Kang, S., & Alaeddini, A. (2025). Student-Athletes’ Road to Success in College Life: Factors Influencing Psychological Well-being, Athletic, and Academic Performance. Journal of Intercollegiate Sport, 18(3), 222-251. https://doi.org/10.17161/jis.v18i3.22764
Krulj, Ј., Marković, E., Simijonović, I., & Lazović, N. (2024). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation within the Context of Creating a Stimulating Learning Environment. Društvene i Humanističke Studije, 9(2(26)), 1329–1344. https://doi.org/10.51558/2490-3647.2024.9.2.1329
Latino, F., Martínez-Roig, R., & Tafuri, F. (2025). Dual Career Athletes and Sustainable Development: A Model for the Future of Sport. Rivista Di Studi Sulla Sostenibilità, 1, 35–51. https://doi.org/10.3280/riss2025oa19664
Longakit, J. C., Lobo, J., Panganiban, T. D., Sinag, J. M. D., Celestial, E. F., & Ballera, J. D. (2025). Hope and grit: The driving forces behind student-athletes’ motivation in sports and academics. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 14(4), 2575. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v14i4.32916
Nicol, K., & Allen, J. B. (2024). Coaches’ provision of structure for players’ competence development: perspectives of professional soccer coaches and players in Norway. International Sport Coaching Journal, 12(3), 411-421. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2023-0038
Panganiban, T. D. C. (2025). Thermal stress and athletic performance: lived experiences of student-athletes in a tropical climate. Sportis. Scientific Journal of School Sport, Physical Education and Psychomotricity, 11(3), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2025.11.3.11544
Sharifi, K. D., Sidiqi, K. M. S., & Ajmiri, M. Y. (2024). The impact of a harmonious sports environment on learning interest. Sprin Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(4), 20-23. https://doi.org/10.55559/sjahss.v3i4.271
Sutriawan, A. A., Hakim, H., & Ilyas, M. B. (2025). The Relationship Between Intrinsic And Extrinsic Motivation And Athletic Participation In Students. STAMINA, 8(1), 21-29. https://doi.org/10.24036/jst.v8i1.1282
Van Yperen, N. W. (2025). Athletes’ basic psychological need satisfaction and autonomous motivation: differences between individual vs. team sports. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 7, 1592356. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1592356
Zhang, X., Lin, Z., & Gu, S. (2025). A machine learning model the prediction of athlete engagement based on cohesion, passion and mental toughness. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 3220. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87794-y
