COMPETITIVE ENGINEERING

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COMPETITIVE ENGINEERING

• Damon Burton Bernie Holliday
• Vandal Sport Psychology Services
• University of Idaho

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COMPETITIVE ENGINEERING

• The competitive engineering process
• modifying the structure, rules, facilities, and
  equipment of a particular sport to enhance
  athletes competitive experience
• benefits include enhanced skill development,
  improved enjoyment, better competitive balance,
  and reduced attrition

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ENHANCING MOTIVATIONAL CLIMATE IN SPORT

• Competitive engineering is a motivational climate
  strategy that attempts to enhance motivation thru
  systematic change in the competitive environment.
• Motivational climate has its origins in
  achievement goal theory that has found players in
  mastery-oriented (i.e., emphasize process)
  climates have higher intrinsic motivation,
  greater enjoyment and satisfaction and less
  attrition than do outcome-oriented teammates.

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STRUCTURING A BETTER MOTIVATIONAL CLIMATE

• CE attempts to enhance intrinsic motivation by
  creating positive changes in how sport is
  structured to
• enhance competence,
• increase personal self-determination or control,
  and
• provide greater opportunities to be with friends
  (i.e., relatedness)

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TARGET-ING STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE SPORT CLIMATE

• The TARGET concept is an acronym to identify 6
  key strategies for creating a more
  mastery-oriented motivational climate.

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TARGET CONCEPT

• T Task Structure focuses on whether process
  or product is emphasized and the variety,
  challenge, control and meaningfulness of learning
  experiences.
• A Authority Structure determines who has
  responsibility in the learning process and how
  leadership and decision-making take place.

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TARGET CONCEPT

• R Reward Structure focuses on whether
  intrinsic and/or extrinsic rewards are
  emphasized.
• G Grouping Structure determines whether
  homogeneous (i.e., similar skill level) or
  heterogeneous (i.e., mixed skill levels) are used
  in practice (i.e., 1s versus 2s) or competition.

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TARGET CONCEPT

• E Evaluation Structure focuses on whether
  evaluation is conducted primarily based on
  process or product.
• T Time Structure determines the pacing of
  learning and how it is adjusted to match learning
  rates (i.e., enough time to ensure everyone
  masters task or play).

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COMPETITIVE ENGINEERING OVERALL GOAL

• Competitive engineering attempts to create
  programs that ensure consistent development of
  physical, psychological and social goals is
  emphasized ahead of winning.
• However, when development is maximized, the
  chance of winning increases.

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6 GOALS OF COMPETITIVE ENGINEERING

• attract athletes to sport,
• increase process orientation and intrinsic
  motivation,
• enhance skill development,
• increase perceived competence,
• maximize fun and enjoyment, and
• minimize burnout and attrition.

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4 STRATEGIES OF COMPETITIVE ENGINEERING

• increase action and scoring,
• create high personal involvement,
• keep scores close, and
• maintain positive social relationships with
  teammates and opponents.

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COMPETITIVE ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES

• modify rules,
• change facilities,
• modify equipment, and
• provide a choice of competitive level.

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COMPETITIVE ENGINEERING MODEL
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TAKING A HINT FROM SANDLOT GAMES

• Coakleys (1997) research
• In sandlot games, kids modify games to maximize
  cooperation, success, and enjoyment
• increased action and scoring opportunities
• more constant involvement during the game
• closely-matched teams
• friendship development and maintenance

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TAKING A HINT FROM SANDLOT GAMES

• Sandlot games result in increased cooperation,
  decision making, creativity, and actionthings
  that rule-centered organized sport stifles
• Coaches, teachers, and sport directors should
  take a hint from the behaviors of children when
  games are spontaneous

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EXAMPLES OF CE TECHNIQUE USAGE
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EXAMPLES OF CE STRATEGY USAGE

• increased action and scoring
• equipment , facility and rule modifications
• create high levels of personal involvement
• increase playing time and opportunities to play
  glamour positions
• keep scores close to maximize interest,
  enjoyment, and motivation
• equalize talent across teams and have catchup
  rules
• Competition should promote positive relationships
  between all participants
• utilize joint practices, socialization rules, and
  social events
• use multiple-level community models to better
  meet the needs of a diverse group of athletes

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PYRAMID MODEL OF SPORT PROGRAMMING

• Level 5
• Regional
• Travel Team
• Level 4 Local
• Travel Team
• Level 3 Competitive Leagues
• Level 2 Recreational Program
• Level 1 Instructional Program