<p> Although the use of monetary incentives as motivational tools has been studied by previous researchers, the mechanism of the relationship between monetary incentives and behavior/performance remains poorly understood. The purpose of this quasi-experimental investigation was to explore the relationship between 3 levels of monetary incentives ($0, $3, and $10) and the athletic performance of adolescent male soccer players. The moderating effect of perceived physical self-efficacy or intrinsic motivation on the relationship between athletic performance and monetary incentives was also investigated. The framework for the study was comprised of expectancy theory, the theory of planned behavior, and self-determination theory. Study participants included a convenience sample of 16 adolescent male soccer players between the ages of 11 and 13 who played on a youth soccer league in the Midwestern United States. The independent variable was level of monetary incentive, and the dependent variable was athletic performance (time on the 50-yard dash). Intrinsic motivation was assessed using the Sport Motivation Scale. Perceived physical self-efficacy was assessed via participants&rsquo; scores on the Physical Self-Efficacy Scale for Children. Analysis, which included a repeated measures linear mixed-effects model and post-hoc pairwise comparisons, revealed that players&rsquo; athletic performance increased as monetary incentives increased. Intrinsic motivation and perceived physical self-efficacy had no statistically significant interaction effect on the relationship between athletic performance and monetary incentives. Findings shed light on the potential usefulness of monetary incentives among male adolescents, and may be used by coaches to foster a mindset of achievement and goal-orientation. </p><p>

<p> Sport participation is important for many adolescents and young adults, as they explore their identity and personality expression. In response to controversy over the &ldquo;dumb jock&rdquo; stereotype, and research exploring differing athletic identities, this investigation examined the personality differences between self-identifying &ldquo;Athletes&rdquo; and &ldquo;Jocks.&rdquo; Much research on student athletes examines the benefits and risks associated with sports participation, with no criteria to identify which athletes may be more at risk. The disparity in the research on the benefits and risks associated with sports participation may be mediated by identity and personality. Previous research suggests that a group identified as &ldquo;Jocks&rdquo; display behaviors indicative of narcissistic and antisocial personality, but does not examine personality directly. In this study, narcissistic traits were assessed using the Narcissistic Personality Inventory-13. Participants included in the study met the following criteria: age 18-24, played at least one year of high school sports, and currently play on a high contact sports team at Division I or II undergraduate universities in the U.S. Data was collected via online survey. Findings indicate that self-identified &ldquo;Jocks&rdquo; endorse higher levels of narcissism overall, as well as higher levels of three narcissistic trait facets. This lends evidence to the idea that there may be a construct to help explain some of the negative behavior associated with athletics. Finally, this study may benefit individuals who work with student athletes by helping to identify youth who may be at higher risk for problem behaviors and/or mental health concerns, particularly those who begin to display traits at an early age.</p>