Purpose: In order to spend training time efficiently, insight in factors that relate to the development of sport performance is highly relevant for competitive athletes and their trainers/coaches. Purpose is to unravel the value of metacognitive skills (MCS) and intrinsic motivation for current and future sport performance level.
Methods: Talented youth athletes (n = 103) active in field hockey, basketball and soccer filled in questionnaires for IM and MCS. Level of sport performance was expressed by an adjusted version of the formula for Eliteness of
Swann et al. (2015). Correlations between IM, MCS and current sport performance level were calculated and followed by structural equation modelling and regression analysis. For a subsample (n = 41), level of performance was also determined one year later (“future performance level”).
Results: Results show that, in contrast to IM (r = -.10), MCS are positively related to current sport performance level (r = .33,
p < .05). IM is an underlying factor for MCS (r = .46,
p < .05). Regression analyses show that 11% of variance in current performance level (
p < .05) and 18% in future performance level can be explained by MCS.
Conclusion: MCS are positively related to sport performance level in youth athletes, not only in the here and now, but even more over one year. With IM as underlying factor, using MCS and especially reflection, may help youth athletes to improve their sport performance.