REASONS FOR TRIATHLETES PRACTICE: A STUDY WITH ATHLETES FROM SANTA CATARINA STATE

Abstract

This study introduce which motivational factors are considered the most important to triathlon’s practices in Santa Catarina through application of “Escala de Motivos para a Prática Esportiva” (EMPE), adapted by Barroso and Krebs (2007) between 47 male triathletes aged between 18 and 49 years old. It was also investigated time of practices. The results indicated that the most important factors are health, physical conditioning and technique, didn’t have significantly different between these three domains (p>0,05). Consequently, the factors energy, affiliation, context and status were less degree of importance. It was concluded that knowing the factors that involve motivation is very important to coaches, because it provides subsidies to stimulate specifics programs and training related to the players’ interesting in order to make their practices funnier and more lasting.