Driven to Succeed: Discovering Your Purpose in Volleyball

What best captures the meaning of "purpose" in an athletic context?

• The specific skills you want to improve

• The underlying motivation driving your participation and effort

• The rules and traditions of your sport

• The number of trophies you want to win

Which of these is the most likely outcome of having a clearly defined purpose as an athlete?

• You will always outperform your teammates

• You will never experience setbacks

• You are more likely to sustain motivation and overcome adversity

• You will focus exclusively on external rewards

Which statement is the most accurate regarding the role of purpose in sports?

• A) Purpose is only necessary when you’re losing

• B) Purpose ensures that you never lose focus or make mistakes

• C) Purpose can help athletes remain resilient and driven, even in challenging circumstances

• D) Purpose is less important than natural talent

Which of the following is the strongest example of a purpose statement?

• I want to break the school record this season.

• I play to experience personal growth and positively impact my teammates.

• I want to be recognized by my coach.

• I want to avoid disappointing my family.

A purpose is most effective for an athlete when it is:

• Based on external validation and recognition

• Ambitious but unrelated to personal values

• Deeply connected to personal beliefs and intrinsic motivation

• Focused mainly on short-term objectives

Which of the following is LEAST likely to result from having a strong sense of purpose?

• Improved ability to handle setbacks

• Increased likelihood of burnout due to overtraining

• Enhanced focus during training and competition

• Greater overall satisfaction with the athletic journey

Which athlete demonstrates the clearest understanding of their personal purpose?

• I follow my training plan because my coach tells me to.

• I play to become the best version of myself and contribute to my team’s culture.

• I play so I can get a college scholarship.

• I compete to prove others wrong.

An athlete’s sense of purpose may evolve as they gain new experiences and perspectives.

• True

• False

Which best distinguishes a goal from a purpose?

• Goals are always easier to achieve than purpose

• Purpose provides a foundation for why you pursue your goals, while goals are specific outcomes you strive for

• Purpose is always more important than goals

• Goals are about process, purpose is about results

Which of these is the weakest example of a purpose statement for an athlete?

• I play to inspire younger athletes and set a positive example.

• I play to challenge myself and learn from every experience.

• I play so I can be admired by fans and get attention online.

• I play to support my teammates and grow as a leader.