In a recent article, Harwood, Hardy, and Swain (2000) presented what they termed a critical analysis of the conceptualization and measurement of achievement goals in sport. The purpose of the present article is to challenge their interpretation of achievement goal theory and to question many of their subsequent recommendations. Specifically, the present response will focus on Harwood et al.’s (a) interpretation of Nicholls’ personal theories of achievement; (b) their contention that task involvement cannot exist in competitive sport; (c) the proposed tripartite conceptualization of goal involvement states; (d) their understanding of the relationship between the way an individual conceptualizes ability and the foundation of dispositional goal orientations; and (e) their criticisms of the way dispositional goal orientations have been measured in sport. Theoretical frameworks are always a work in progress. To this end, we concur with the spirit of Harwood et al.’s article which implies that our conceptual models should be continuously questioned, tested, and extended. However, we believe their interpretation and recommendations do little to enhance our conceptual understanding of achievement goal theory in sport.
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Clarifying Misconceptions and Misrepresentations in Achievement Goal Research in Sport: A Response to Harwood, Hardy, and Swain
Darren C. Treasure, Joan L. Duda, Howard K. Hall, Glyn C. Roberts, Carol Ames, and Martin L. Maehr
Physical Activity as a Victim, a Perpetrator, or Part of the Solution to the Climate Crisis?
Peter Gelius, Sven Messing, Antonina Tcymbal, Leonie Birkholz, and Karim Abu-Omar
discussions, this commentary explores different views on the relationship between PA and one of the most existential challenges to humankind: climate change. PA and Sport as a Victim of Climate Change Heat waves, extreme weather events, and high ozone levels pose direct challenges to athletes and people
Development of the Sport Mental Health Continuum—Short Form (Sport MHC-SF)
Brian J. Foster and Graig M. Chow
Research investigating well-being in competitive athletics has found that athletes with greater well-being are more likely to thrive in their competitive environment ( Jones, Meijen, McCarthy, & Sheffield, 2009 ). Elite athletes have numerous barriers to achieving well-being due to their sport
Microaggressions Experienced by Women and Gender Diverse Athletes in Competitive Cycling
Erin E. Ayala, Alison Riley-Schmida, Kathryn P. A. Faulkner, and Kelsey Maleski
road and criterium racing, mountain biking, cyclo-cross, track racing, and gravel racing. Cyclists may participate in one discipline or many, depending on their interests. Cycling is also unique as an individual and a team sport; some disciplines are individually oriented (e.g., cyclo-cross), while
Menstrual Cycle and Hormonal Contraceptive Symptom Severity and Frequency in Athletic Females
Laura R. Kiemle-Gabbay, Stephanie Valentin, Daniel Martin, and Laura J. Forrest (née Whyte)
influence a plethora of physiological, psychological, and behavioral responses which can potentially impact sport and exercise performance ( Blagrove et al., 2020 ; Bruinvels et al., 2016 ; 2021 ; Brown et al., 2021 ; de Jonge, 2003 ; McNulty et al., 2020 ). Historically, research concerning
Shuttle Time for Seniors: The Impact of 8-Week Structured Badminton Training on Markers of Healthy Aging and Evaluation of Lived Experiences—A Quasi-Experimental Study
Jason Tallis, Darren Richardson, Sharn P. Shelley, Neil Clarke, Rhys O. Morris, Mark Noon, Michael J. Duncan, and Emma L.J. Eyre
Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) explains how capability, opportunity, and motivation are the key facets of behavior change ( Michie et al., 2011 ). Age-appropriate group-based exercise, using sport as a vehicle, has received recent attention where combining the physical and social aspect of sport has been
“There’s a Lifestyle, an Appreciation, a Beauty”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Masters Rowers
Jason Rich, Pamela Beach, and Heidi K. Byrne
Masters athletics is a competition for adults who are over the age of peak performance for a sport ( Callary, Belalcazar, et al., 2023 ). Typically, this is above the age of 35 years. Masters athletes often train harder and more frequently than fit individuals who do not compete ( Callary et
#SportToo: Implications of and Best Practice for the #MeToo Movement in Sport
Mitch Abrams and Michelle L. Bartlett
, may be the most widely seen social media phenomenon demonstrating the importance of a meaningful response by those involved in sports. Individuals that have training in two vital areas: clinical psychology/counseling and in sport and performance, particularly in understanding athletic and sport
Erratum. Trans Women and/in Sport: Exploring Sport Feminisms to Understand Exclusions
Sociology of Sport Journal
TO OUR READERS: An error appeared in the ahead-of-print version of the following article: Caudwell, J. (2024). Trans women and/in sport: Exploring sport feminisms to understand exclusions. Sociology of Sport Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2023-0091 An error in
Research Across the Female Life Cycle: Reframing the Narrative for Health and Performance in Athletic Females and Showcasing Solutions to Drive Advancements in Research and Translation
Kelly L. McNulty, Bernadette C. Taim, Jessica A. Freemas, Amal Hassan, Carly Lupton Brantner, Chimsom T. Oleka, Dawn Scott, Glyn Howatson, Isabel S. Moore, Kate K. Yung, Kirsty M. Hicks, Matthew Whalan, Ric Lovell, Sam R. Moore, Suzanna Russell, Abbie E. Smith-Ryan, and Georgie Bruinvels
The Time Is Now In recent decades, the rise of female participation in sport and exercise has been prominent. At the most elite level, the number of females participating in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games is set to achieve parity with males for the first time, representing a 3789% increase since the
