OLYMPIC VALUES OF PIERRE DE COUBERTIN AS MORAL FACTORS IN EDUCATION OF YOUNG ATHLETES

Abstract

The research aim – identify the most significant moral factors of young athletes (14 year old adolescent boys). The survey was conducted at Klaipeda wrestling center, track-and-field center, Klaipeda city cycling center and “Verdene” progymnasium of Klaipeda city. The total number of respondents included in the sample N=79. Research methods - analysis of research literature, abstracting and systemization, questionnaire. Research findings revealed that more than half (66.7 %) of the research participants with little and greater sport-related experience (58.1 %) have already witnessed instances of unfair play and disapprove of it. Adolescents from both groups with different sport-related experience always attempt to be fair and play fair (52.8 % and 62.9 %). However, respondents willing to refer to themselves as sport-related role models came from a group with greater experience (62.8 %). It was identified that respondents from the both groups (41.7 % and 44.2 %) recognize and follow moral values. Results revealed that fair competition and intolerance to unfair play (58.2 %) and pursuit of a fair game (32.9 %) are the core moral factors influencing respondents the most. Having compared the results of 14 year old adolescents from different groups, it was identified that moral factors, motivating adolescents with different sport-related experience to engage in sports, are similar. However, such moral factors as fair competition (62.9 %) and ability to be a role model in sport (62.9 %), motivating adolescents to engage in sports are more significant to adolescents with greater sport-related experience than to respondents with less experience. KEYWORDS: Olympic values, moral factors, young athletes. DOI:  http://dx.doi.org/ 10.15181/atee.v2i0.940