A hierarchical model of approach achievement motivation and effort regulation during a 90-min. soccer match

Research indicates that effort close to the lactate threshold during a soccer match is of importance to succeed, so a prospective study was conducted and a hierarchical achievement motivation approach model tested in relation to effort reglation among 55 male high level soccer players (M=23.6 yr., SD=4.3). The motive to chieve success was expected to be positively associated with the mastery goal, which would be positively associated with playing time close to the lactate threshold in the irst soccer match period, and this positively associated with the same magnitude of effort in the second period. We also examined whether the mastery goal would medite the link between the motive to achieve success and playing time close to the lactate threshold during the first period and also playing time close to the lactate threshold in the first period would mediate the link between the mastery goal and playing time at this effort level during the second period. LISREL analyses supported these predictions. Additional hierarchical polynomial multiple regression analyses indicated unexpected significant nonlinear associations between the motive to avoid failure and effort regulation. The latter is partly explained by ideas from the catastrophe theory.