Table 1.
The Youth Athletes’ Fun Ethos—Prioritization of the 11 Fun-factors
| Primary Importance | Secondary Importance | Meeting new people (31) | 3.35 | ||
| #1. Trying Hard | 4.37 | #4.Learning and Improving | 3.75 | Talking and goofing off with teammates (34) | 3.09 |
| Trying your best (73) | 4.80 | Being challenged to improve/get better at your sport (16) | 4.38 | #8.Mental Bonuses | 3.65 |
| Working hard (58) | 4.77 | Learning from mistakes (42) | 4.31 | Keeping a positive attitude (29) | 4.43 |
| Exercising and being active (5) | 4.66 | Improving athletic skills to play at the next level (36) | 4.29 | Winning (30) | 3.82 |
| Getting/staying in shape (67) | 4.62 | Ball touches (dribbling, passing, shooting, etc.) (69) | 4.21 | It relieves stress (77) | 3.48 |
| Playing well during a game (2) | 4.58 | Learning new skills (61) | 4.10 | Ignoring the score (78) | 2.89 |
| Being strong and confident (20) | 4.50 | Using a skill learned in practice during a game (19) | 3.63 | #9.Game Time Support | 3.62 |
| Competing (52) | 4.41 | Playing different positions (25) | 3.24 | A ref who makes consistent calls (28) | 4.02 |
| Making a good play, scoring, making a big save (9) | 4.21 | Going to sports camp (12) | 2.89 | Parents show good sportsmanship (encouraging) (72) | 3.88 |
| Setting and achieving goals (74) | 4.07 | Copying the moves/tricks of professional athletes (45) | 2.75 | Being congratulated for playing well (41) | 3.67 |
| Playing rough (15) | 3.09 | #5.Games | 3.71 | Having people cheer at the game (47) | 3.65 |
| #2.Positive Team Dynamics | 4.28 | Getting playing time (60) | 4.52 | Having your parent(s) watch your games (11) | 3.35 |
| Playing well together as a team (38) | 4.65 | Playing your favorite position (37) | 3.87 | Getting complimented by other parents (6) | 3.16 |
| Supporting my teammates (79) | 4.38 | Playing against an evenly matched team (71) | 3.73 | Tertiary Importance | |
| When players show good sportsmanship (70) | 4.35 | Being known by others for your sport skills (35) | 3.41 | #10.Team Rituals | 2.77 |
| Being supported by my teammates (54) | 4.32 | Playing on a nice field (21) | 3.39 | Showing team spirit (gear, ribbons, signs) (56) | 3.10 |
| Getting help from teammates (75) | 4.00 | Playing in tournaments (55) | 3.33 | High-fiving, fist-bumping, hugging (39) | 3.04 |
| Warming up and stretching as a team (68) | 3.95 | #6.Practices | 3.70 | End-of-season/team parties (3) | 2.76 |
| #3.Positive Coaching | 4.09 | Having well-organized practices (10) | 4.08 | Going out to eat as a team (66) | 2.69 |
| When a coach treats players with respect (44) | 4.56 | Taking water breaks during practice (18) | 4.06 | Doing team rituals (24) | 2.68 |
| A coach who knows a lot about the sport (13) | 4.45 | Having the freedom to play creatively (22) | 3.96 | Carpooling with teammates to practice and games (46) | 2.66 |
| Having a coach who is a positive role model (65) | 4.40 | Doing lots of different drills/activities in practices (57) | 3.75 | Doing a cool team cheer (80) | 2.39 |
| When a coach encourages the team (8) | 4.33 | Scrimmaging during practice (49) | 3.69 | #11. Swag | 2.63 |
| Getting clear, consistent communication from coaches (14) | 4.28 | Partner and small group drills (40) | 3.35 | Having nice sports gear and equipment (27) | 3.28 |
| A coach who listens/considers players’ opinions (7) | 4.23 | Practicing with specialty trainers/coaches (4) | 3.04 | Earning medals or trophies (63) | 3.18 |
| A coach who allows mistakes, stays positive (64) | 4.22 | #7.Team Friendships | 3.66 | Traveling to new places to play (53) | 2.85 |
| A coach who you can talk to easily (81) | 4.15 | Getting along with your teammates (17) | 4.57 | Wearing a special, cool uniform (48) | 2.46 |
| A nice, friendly coach (76) | 4.15 | Being around your friends (23) | 3.85 | Eating snacks/treats after the game (62) | 2.39 |
| Getting compliments from coaches (1) | 3.74 | Having a group of friends outside of school (50) | 3.79 | Staying in hotels for games/tournaments (26) | 2.26 |
| When a coach participates w/ players during practice (43) | 3.50 | Hanging out with teammates outside of practice or games (51) | 3.48 | Getting pictures taken (59) | 2.01 |
| When a coach jokes around (33) | 3.06 | Being part of the same team year after year (32) | 3.45 |
Note. The players’ fun ethos delineates the 11 fun-factors by primary, secondary, and tertiary importance based on the sample of all players (N = 141), collapsed across sex, age, and level of play. The numbers in the column to the right of the fun factors and determinants are the importance values, ranging from 1 (not as important) to 5 (extremely important), organized from most to least important. The numbers in parentheses denote the identifying number within the go-zone display.