What Research Says About Motivation—Why Winning Isn’t the Top Priority for Athletes

Studies in sports psychology reveal that the inner drive to improve, the love of the game and the joy of learning often outweigh the simple desire to win. Rather than chasing external rewards like trophies or titles, many athletes find that true fulfillment comes from the journey itself.

At the heart of this perspective is the concept of intrinsic motivation. According to Self-Determination Theory (SDT), developed by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, people are most motivated when they feel autonomous, competent, and connected. In sports, this means that athletes who focus on mastering their skills and embracing the challenge of improvement experience deeper satisfaction. This focus on personal growth over external validation is linked to higher persistence, greater resilience, and overall enhanced well-being.

For instance, research shows that athletes who set process-oriented goals, like improving technique or increasing endurance, tend to enjoy their sport more and are likely to maintain long-term participation. The daily commitment to progress, even when the scoreboard doesn’t immediately reflect it, becomes the true reward.

Research Highlights and Further Reading

·         Self-Determination Theory: SDT provides a robust framework for understanding why the journey can be more rewarding than the destination. For a deeper dive into this theory, visit the Self-Determination Theory website.

·         Intrinsic Motivation in Sports: Articles on platforms such as Psychology Today explore how intrinsic motivation—focusing on self-improvement, learning, and the sheer joy of the game—can lead to a more fulfilling athletic experience.

When athletes focus on the process, every training session, every small improvement, and every moment of learning becomes a building block for lasting success. This approach not only improves performance but also nurtures a lifelong love of the sport. It reminds us that the satisfaction derived from constant growth, perseverance, and shared experiences is what truly drives success.

In essence, while winning is undeniably exciting, it’s the inner drive to improve and the joy found in every step of the journey that ultimately sustains an athlete’s passion. This inner drive, often referred to as intrinsic motivation, isn’t fueled by external rewards like trophies or accolades but by the satisfaction of personal growth and mastery. Self-determination theory, developed by Deci and Ryan, explains that when athletes focus on enhancing their skills and enjoying the process, they experience a deeper, more enduring form of motivation. This focus on growth over the final score not only helps in overcoming challenges but also builds resilience and a lifelong love for the sport .

Moreover, this principle holds valuable insights beyond sports. In life, too, we face challenges that can seem overwhelming if we fixate solely on the end results. Whether you’re striving for a promotion, learning a new skill, or improving personal relationships, embracing the journey allows you to celebrate small wins along the way. These small victories accumulate, much like the incremental improvements in athletic training, and they remind us that progress is a process rather than a single moment of triumph.

By appreciating every step, every training session, every setback, and every moment of progress, you learn to value the effort as much as the outcome. This approach not only reduces the pressure to win at all costs but also nurtures a healthier, more balanced perspective on success. This approach teaches us that the lessons learned in perseverance, dedication, and continual improvement are the real rewards of any journey.

For those interested in exploring these ideas further, the Self-Determination Theory website offers comprehensive insights into how intrinsic motivation drives sustained engagement and fulfillment. Additionally, platforms like Psychology Today feature accessible articles that discuss how focusing on the process rather than just the outcome can lead to greater satisfaction in both sports and everyday life.

In summary, while winning delivers an immediate thrill, it is the continuous inner drive and joy in each step of the journey that builds lasting passion and success—both on the field and in life. Embracing these principles offers valuable insights not just for sports but for life as a whole.

Personal Coaching Lessons: Finding the Small Wins In the Game

 Whether you’re on the field or the slopes, recognize and celebrate every small victory. These little wins are the building blocks of lasting success. In sports and life, the journey to success is often paved with a series of small, meaningful victories. As both a coach and an athlete, I learned that these incremental wins are what build the foundation for lasting achievement.

Every practice session offers a chance to see progress, even if it’s not immediately visible on the scoreboard. Whether it's refining your running form on the track, perfecting a swing in softball, or even executing a well-timed move on the slopes, these subtle improvements are significant. By focusing on these small enhancements, you create a positive feedback loop that fuels further growth. Recognizing these wins helps you as an athlete understand that progress isn’t always about a dramatic, final victory; it’s about steady improvement over time.

Acknowledging small victories isn’t about inflating minor successes into grand triumphs; it’s about fostering a mindset that values the process. For example, after a tough practice, celebrating a teammate's improved technique or a personal best in a drill reinforces that every effort matters. These moments of recognition boost morale and encourage athletes to continue striving, turning everyday progress into a powerful motivational tool.

Small wins are the building blocks of confidence. When you see that even modest improvements can lead to tangible success, you gain the courage to tackle bigger challenges. This confidence not only enhances individual performance but also strengthens the overall team spirit. By celebrating these moments, you create an environment where everyone is motivated to contribute, knowing that every small step forward is a part of a larger victory.

When I coached, I felt it was important to help athletes set achievable, process-focused goals rather than solely aiming for the ultimate win. Every athlete is different as is every coach, but when was coaching, I found these ideas worked for me.

·         Setting Incremental Goals: Break down larger objectives into manageable steps. When achieved, each milestone, no matter how small, is a victory.

·         Providing Continuous Feedback: Regular, constructive feedback helps athletes recognize improvements that might otherwise go unnoticed. The feedback can come from a coach or another athlete, but it must be fact-based and specific. Saying you're doing better is not good feedback.

·         Fostering a Supportive Environment: Celebrate each success together, whether it’s improved teamwork, better endurance, or even overcoming a moment of self-doubt.

Research in sports psychology emphasizes that focusing on these small wins can sustain motivation and lead to overall success. This mindset transforms setbacks into learning opportunities and instills a resilience that lasts beyond the game.

In essence, every small win is a stepping stone to greater success. Whether on the field or the slopes, embracing these victories nurtures a spirit of continuous improvement and reminds us that the journey is just as rewarding as the destination.

The Challenge of Success Beyond Wins and Losses

With softball, despite all the years waiting to have won a championship, each game was learning to be persistent and to appreciate growth. There is no measuring success by how the game is won; it's also every opportunity for improvement. Each game was a lesson to learn, to improve, and to develop strength, things that extend far longer than the thrill of winning a championship.

Waiting for the championship win was not just waiting for the losses; waiting for knowing every swing, every pitch, and every play was a chance to grow. It was at this time that we, as a team, focused on one game at a time that we were playing. It was not about winning the championship; the focus was to win the game we were playing. Looking back, I realize that each practice was not just a reaction to the previous loss or win it was a promise of continued improvement.

Research in sports psychology has shown that when athletes focus on themselves getting better and learning from every experience, they create an attitude that helps them overcome obstacles on and off the pitch.

Over the years, I have learned that my experience in sports has taught me that success is not always determined by the final score, as in life. The training, the honing of skills, and even the losing are where the real growth takes place. Each practice session and each game taught lessons that no trophy could ever contain. These lessons have shown me that improvement is a series of small, incremental moves and every chance to do better is a win in itself.

What's wonderful about being involved with any sport is that every competition, event or game is a page in a larger book of personal and team development. When my teammates and I went on the field, we were not playing to win; we were playing to play for each other. When I coached, I used that same attitude to change the perception of competition on the part of my players. Winning was not about the destination anymore, but about the lessons we learned along the way, the effort put in, and the progress made with every next game, with the victories being a bonus.

Ultimately, the measure of success past victory and defeat is to embrace the process. It's the understanding that though victory is satisfying, the loveliness of sport lies in the daily toil and the small victories that lead to step-by-step improvement. The game doesn't end with the final whistle; the real learning is embedded in every practice session, every setback, and every forward step.

In expressing these ideas, I hope to make you realize that the value of the journey is worth as much as the destination. Success, in its truest form, is the sum of all the little improvements and the knowledge that we acquire along the way, a philosophy that not only produces better athletes but makes our lives better.

Why Winning Impacts Team Culture and Buy-In

When my siblings and I were founding members of a local track team, we discovered firsthand that victory is not solely about individual success, but it can bring together, energize, and establish a sustainable team culture. Within our team, each victory, whether a close competition or a record-breaking victory, wasn't ours but everyone's celebration. This shared experience generated a feeling of belonging and purpose that continues to guide my definition of success to this day.

Winning builds a strong bond between teammates. It promotes trust, respect for one another, and a feeling of responsibility to a shared goal. Research in sports psychology substantiates this, showing that shared triumph increases cohesion among teams and boosts individual motivation by making each player feel worthwhile and part of something greater than themselves. At our track team, every finish line that one of us crossed meant a small victory for the team as a whole. Such collective victory reminded everyone that each contribution was important to the whole. We were lucky because we had coaches who believed in such an idea, and they spread the idea so that we runners cheered and urged each other forward even when we were behind and not winning. When I started coaching in my late 20s, I applied the same principles to help the athletes whom I was coaching in the various sports that I was coaching. As a coach, I realized that a good team culture is not talent-based; it is established through shared striving for excellence.

My own experience of training with my brothers, pushing our limits, and celebrating our triumphs taught me that the journey itself was as important as the final victory. In both celebrating our victories and defeats with our teams, we also commiserated in our failures. In this way, we transformed setbacks into learning experiences and microscopic victories into ginormous morale boosters. This camaraderie gave a background in which every practice session was a chance to bond and grow together. Individual success is gratifying, but the glory of victory is felt when it's shared.

Victory is not merely about self-importance; it's about what it achieves for the group. When the team believes in a common purpose, every individual's success lifts the others. Whether it's a championship softball victory after years of hardship or the team effort that led to a team victory in football, the outcome is a clear indicator of what can be achieved when individuals unite for a common goal. The momentum generated by a win can elevate the level of day-to-day performance.

A win motivates each member to give their best because they know that their input matters. As they see their efforts bear fruit, team members are more invested in the sport and also in the values of teamwork, mutual assistance, and improvement. This spirit of collective achievement makes everyone strive to be better every single day, confirming the notion that victory is just as much a part of the journey as the destination. In a sense, when you have faith in the idea of winning, you're making a bet on a culture of trust, shared aspiration, and mutual growth. That's why every win, no matter how big or small, has to be celebrated by everyone, because it's not every person for themself; it's everyone's victory.

The Key Question: Does Winning Matter?

Winning is a reward, an achievement. But if all you're thinking about is that finish line, you might lose the important lessons that were gained in the process.

Winning is important! It's something visible, a benchmark that teaches us and others about our effort and dedication. But if all you're looking at is that finish line, you might be ignoring the amazing ride that got you there.

Reflecting back on when I was a middle-distance runner, I now recognize that every race was not simply an opportunity to stand on the podium. It was a lesson in perseverance, teamwork, and self-improvement. My brothers and I trained with a competitive spirit that was not about defeating one another but challenging ourselves. We were part of a group of people who came together to build our city's track club. Every practice session, predawn morning jog, and training session as well as every loss or victory, helped determine our attitudes. It was only later, when I looked back, that I realized true victory was not in the win, but in the discipline, the improvement step by step, and the knowledge accumulated along the way. We did not celebrate when we lost, but we used the defeat to help us improve as a team and individually and those smarter than I realized that the strength we had developed while losing, both individually and as a team, made us stronger.

Being a champion was not easy, in softball, it took five years to clinch the provincial championship. Each season, regardless of the scoreboard, taught us valuable lessons about resilience, trust, and the importance of enjoying the game. Similarly, my time as a linesman in minor league football, being part of a Canadian championship team, reminded me that success isn’t just defined by that final win but by the shared journey that brought us together.

Sports and motivation studies will tell you that winning is definitely gratifying, but the process of seeking excellence creates enduring satisfaction. Having a single-minded focus on an outcome can rob you of the depth in incremental daily improvement and learning. Instead, setting process-type goals, like improving your skills, building endurance, or even learning a difficult play, will be more gratifying and long-term in nature.

So, when you consider the question of whether winning matters, you must remember that every step along the way, every small victory or loss, is a practice in perseverance and is just as valuable as the victory. Winning is certainly a time to rejoice, but it is the journey, dedication to improvement at every turn, relationships made along the way, and the lessons you learn in winning and losing that make you who you are in the end.

As you pursue your own quest, on the mountain or in anything, keep in mind that the path is as enjoyable as the prize. Cherish every step in between, and you shall realize that the heart of victory is not necessarily in the line but in every step that led you to it. 

Does winning really matter?

My grandson does competitive skiing, an individual sport. He is quite good, and he is being recognized by a national body, but he is still young. My best friend's grandson, who is the same age as my grandson, has been recognized as a top athlete in Football and is competing for national recognition.

 When I was young, my brothers and I were good athletes and excelled in both team and individual sports. When I was their age, I loved to play, practice and win. Winning was a nice reward, but it was not the goal of why I participated. My friend, who was also very athletic, believed that winning did matter more than participating So that leads me to the question:  Does winning really matter?

As I thought about this question, I was reminded that it's not only about the trophy at the finish line when we win but about the individuals we meet along the way, the challenges that we overcome, and the things we learn when we win.

I was younger, I specialized at the half mile and mile races, and I was four years second best in my age category. My brothers, with skills in sprinting and distance, had similar interests. Both our abilities and our attitudes helped our coaches to form a city track club—a place where we each recognized that winning's value lay in what we all worked towards and gave up for each other.

At the same time, my athletic career took me to the softball diamond, where my brothers and I played for a team that, after five long years of hard work and perseverance, finally won the provincial championship. A bit later, I was also fortunate enough to be a linesman in minor league football on a team that won the Canadian championship. These lessons taught me that though the thrill of victory was enjoyable, the true value lay in the day-to-day grind, the camaraderie, and the pure joy of playing the game.

This leads us to a question that has crossed my mind over the years: Does winning matter?

In my mind, the answer has always been nuanced. Yes, winning is a beautiful moment of recognition, but it’s the journey—the practice, the team spirit, the steady improvement- that truly shapes us.

For this series, I’ve broken down what winning means and how it touches every part of our lives. Over the next few blogs, I will explore what I think we should be telling our grandchildren about winning. I hope you enjoy the following ideas:

1.    The key question: Does winning matter?

2.    How winning influences team culture and buy-in

3.    The challenge of defining success beyond wins and losses

4.    Personal coaching lessons: finding small wins within the game

5.    What research says about motivation—why winning isn’t the top priority for athletes

6.    How to shift the focus from championships to daily improvement

7.    How can an athlete balance recognition while staying process-oriented