Reculiarities motivation of young athletes to sport in the aspect of gender, age and sports branch have been analysed in the Master‘s final work.

Rapid biological, social, intellectual and sportive maturity of the person performing influence on thinking, behaviour, self-expression, worth orientation happen in sport at the age stage of adolescence and juvenescence. Chosen of sport activity and education development are determined by gender, age, sport technique, social environment and individual skills and worth provisions at these stages (Barkauskaitė, 2001; Miškinis, 2002).

Factors problem which determines chosen and encourages to do sport is still actual in Lithuania. The bond among gender, age and chosen of sport branch and motivation of children to do sport is not explored sufficiently. Also, there is a lack of systematized and generalized knowledge about sport motivation which stimulates desirable personality changes.

The aim of the research – to reason theoretically and to explore empirically motivation peculiarities of 11-16 years old schoolchildren to sport in the aspect of gender, age and sport branches.

Athletes (n=214) of ten sport branches of 11-16 years old from nine sport schools of Šiauliai town and from one atletic club of the town have participated in the investigation. Athletics motivation scale (Pelletier et.al., 1995) approved (Grajauskas, 2008) in Lithuania has been used for the investigation. Motives expressions of young athletes have been evaluated by the system of seven points.

In evaluating differences of motivation to do sport:

By the aspect of gender it has been determined that an average motivation of boys (5,79 ± 1,21) is more expressed than girls (5,48 ± 1,17). Comparing averages of affirmations evaluation characterizing external motivation, it is seen that this motives’ group p < 0,05 is less appropriate for girls than for boys.

By the aspect of age it has been determined that “internal motivation” is expressed clearly by the young athletes of 11-13 years old. The largest level of expression characterizes by the motives’ group “internal motivation – to seek perfection” among respondents of 11 years old athletes (6,27 ± 1,11), the smallest – 14 years (5,13 ± 1,42). An external motivation distinguishes by the highest points of expression at 12 years (5,36 ± 1,19), the least - 11 years old (3,18 ± 1,11).

By the aspect of sport branches and by the researching answers to affirmations characterizing internal (6,45 ± 0,71) and external motivation (5,59 ± 0,90) to do sport, athletes cultivating šotokan karate sport branch distinguish by the highest evaluation of points

Raktažodžiai: sport, motyvation, aspect