A Comparative Analysis of Sports Commitment Among University-Level Male Volleyball and Basketball Players

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare sports commitment among university-level male volleyball and basketball players at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Sports commitment, a cognitive and emotional construct, plays a vital role in influencing athletes’ persistence, motivation, and performance. The study was based on the Sport Commitment Model, which includes key determinants such as sport enjoyment, involvement alternatives, personal investments, social constraints, and involvement opportunities. A total of 30 male Players (15 volleyball and 15 basketball), aged 18–25 years, were selected through purposive sampling. The findings revealed that both groups exhibited a high level of sports commitment with minimal differences between them. Sport enjoyment emerged as the most significant factor influencing continued participation, while involvement alternatives were relatively low. Personal investment also contributed positively to commitment, whereas social constraints showed limited influence.

The study concludes that intrinsic factors, particularly enjoyment and personal investment, play a crucial role in sustaining sports commitment among university athletes, with both volleyball and basketball players demonstrating similar levels of commitment.