Introduction: Some of the factors that contribute to the motivation to participate in sport include enjoyment, competence, relaxation, challenges. The Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) approach has been developed recently to tap into children’s inherent desire to play. Bunker and Thorpe (1982) developed TGfU around the concept of teaching kids games by playing games. The purpose of this study was to compare of sport participation motivation between novice football players based on two different approaches: Teaching Game for understanding and traditional method. The main elements of TGfU approach include: trying out a version of the activity in a small-group, developing understanding of common elements of games and tactics needed for success, learning and practicing making decisions in action, in response to different situations, putting it all together, applying the skills.
Methodology: We compared motivation to participate in sport level in a group of 15 student novice football players (10-12 years old) in Tehran City, Iran, that has being trained through TGfU approach for 3 months with a group who has being trained based on traditional the technique-based approach for the same time period. We used sport participation motivation questionnaire for evaluation of sport participation motivation status of the subjects. Independent t test were used to compare sport participation motivation level between two groups.
Results: The results revealed that there was a significant difference between two groups in sport participation motivation level as TGfU group has significantly higher sport participation motivation compare to the other group (p< 0.05).
Discussion: In conclusion, teaching football skills based on TGfU approach can increase sport participation motivation of novice football player.