Motives for Sports Activity Test

See what truly drives an athlete and shapes performance in about 10 minutes. Get a clear motivation profile from 50 items to guide selection, coaching, and targeted mental training.

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Questions: 5010 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

27,053 views

2,667 completions

2,289 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

72/100

Motives for Sports Activity (MfSA)

Measures the overall strength and clarity of the motives that drive a person to participate in and persist with sports activity.

Low motivation

Moderate motivation

High motivation

0 – 39: Low motivation | 40 – 69: Moderate motivation | 70 – 100: High motivation

A score of 72 falls in the High motivation range, indicating strong and well-formed drivers for engaging in sports that are likely to support sustained training effort.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Competitive athletes

46%OF USERS

Athletes take it to understand what truly drives their training and competition and what may be holding their performance back.

Coaches and team staff

34%OF USERS

Coaches use it to map each athlete’s motives to tailor feedback, incentives, and training plans for better results.

Sport psychologists

20%OF USERS

Psychologists take it to quickly assess motivational structure and design targeted interventions to sustain effort and prevent burnout.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

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Used in 52+ countries

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See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Motives of Sports Activity, MSD (MoSAM)

Average

27.5

Normal range

13.2 — 41.8

min.

max.

100

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures the main motives that support participation and performance in athletic training and competition. Results describe the relative strength and priority of different motives.

Who can take this questionnaire?

It is intended for athletes and other individuals engaged in organized sport or structured physical training. It may also be used in team settings when motivation needs to be compared across participants.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Completion typically takes about 10 minutes. The questionnaire includes 50 items.

How should items be answered?

Select the response that best reflects typical attitudes and behavior, not a single unusual event. Answer all items without spending excessive time on any one item.

How are results used?

Results can inform individualized goal setting, training emphasis, and selection of incentives that match the dominant motives. They should be interpreted alongside other information such as performance data and observation.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Motivations for Athletic Activity, MSD Test

Motives for Sports Activity Test - Symptoms and Signs

sport sports motivation

This measure is designed to assess an individual’s motivation for participation in sport and related achievement-oriented activities. Motives for Sports Activity is typically used to characterize patterns of motivational drivers that may inform psychological consultation, coaching discussions, and goal-setting.

The instrument consists of 50 items and generally requires about 10 minutes to complete. Items sample a range of reasons for sport involvement (e.g., performance goals, enjoyment of the process, and other internal or external influences), supporting a structured summary of motivational priorities.

Motives for Sports Activity may be used to guide individualized training support, clarify sources of engagement and persistence, and identify areas for targeted intervention when motivation appears inconsistent or misaligned with current demands. Authors listed: Edward L. Deci; Richard M. Ryan.

Author: Edward L. Deci, Richard M. Ryan

Literature: Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Plenum Press. 1985.

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