Most American children know that winning is important.
Only a small number of adolescents are motivated by a climate that says winning alone is what matters, say Darren Treasure and Glyn Roberts, professors at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and the University of Illinois, respectively. Almost all, however, respond positively to a climate that focuses first on mastering skills and self-improvement, while still being competitive. An article on that study will be published in the next issue of the International Journal of Sport Psychology. Treasure is a professor of sport and exercise psychology who also works as a sport psychology consultant with several U. of I. varsity teams and with the United States Soccer Federation. Roberts is a professor of kinesiology who has developed this line of research since starting it at the U. of I. two decades ago.