KNOW WHO YOU ARE

According to McDonald et al. (2015), exercise identity is defined as the degree to which individuals incorporate physical activity into their sense of self. For master athletes, a strong exercise identity can enhance their resilience to setbacks, such as injuries or life changes, ultimately promoting persistence in their sports.

Exercise-identity strength has been found to predict exercise-related outcomes such as weekly frequency of exercise behaviour (Wilson & Muon, 2008), duration and frequency of vigorous physical activity (Strachan,Woodgate, Brawley, & Tse, 2005. Moreover, exercise-identity strength has been associated with adherence-related social cognitions such as self-efficacy, intentions (Strachan & Brawley, 2008; Strachan, Brawley, Spink, & Glazebrook, 2010), and self-regulatory actions (Carraro & Gaudreau, 2010) all of which have a role in helping individuals self-regulate towards identity-relevant exercise behaviour.The chances are high that if you comfortably identify as an active masters player, good things will likely accrue.

Role of Exercise Identity in Participation

Enhancement of Motivation

A robust, healthy  exercise identity fosters intrinsic motivation and fires sustained participation. When athletes identify closely with their sport, they are more likely to engage in regular training and participation, even when faced with challenges (Sweeney et al., 2016). Intrinsic motivation leads to sustained participation over time. Since masters athletes are often dealing with life challenges such as work, family, and aging, their intrinsic desire to engage in sport allows them to maintain their exercise habits despite these obstacles.

Intrinsically motivated athletes tend to demonstrate greater resilience against setbacks, such as injuries or decreased performance. Their dedication to the sport as a source of joy and fulfillment reinforces their exercise identity and commitment, helping them push through difficulties. They do not need extrinsic lures like rewards and recognition.

Social Support & Belonging

Master players often derive a sense of community from the game they love. Exercise identity encourages connections with like-minded individuals, providing social support during periods of setbacks (Reed & Phillips, 2005). It may be that the strength of exercise identity is partly shaped by social support within an exercise group such as a hockey team. In assessing the potential impact this may have on our hockey playing audience, consider the mechanism of social activation.  This incorporates social comparison, acknowledgements, and a sense of belonging. Recent evidence supports social activation as a key predictor of exercise identity (Rhodes et al., 2016). Another study found that participants in a group exercise class had higher individual exercise identity scores compared to those who received personal coaching and self-controlled gym membership (Dillman, 2007). All in all,  forms of social support that include companionship, emotional, informational, instrumental, and validation support may explain the strength of a hockey player’s exercise identity and underpin its resilience under challenge.

Commitment to Long-term Involvement

A strong exercise identity can lead to increased commitment to long-term athletic participation. This commitment can mitigate the psychological toll of aging and performance decline, making athletes more likely to adjust and continue their sporting activities (Blanchard et al., 2009). We have all seen the diehards gracing our turfs into their 70’s and beyond, testimony to the durability of exercise identity in masters hockey players.

Modulation of Setbacks

Coping Mechanism & Flexible Re-engagement

A strong exercise identity may serve as a coping mechanism during setbacks, such as injuries or performance failure. Individuals that strongly identify with their sport often reaffirm their identity by developing adaptive strategies that allow them to remain engaged with their sport, fostering resilience (Holt et al., 2013), even in the face of life challenges. You will often see those who are injured or seriously ill incorporate coaching, mentoring and or administrative assistance during their convalescence. 

When faced with setbacks, those with a firm exercise identity may view recovery and adaptation as challenges rather than failures. They may participate in lower-impact activities or modify their training regime, allowing them to stay connected to their athletic identity (Fleshman et al., 2018). This outlook helps them maintain their self-worth linked to their athletic identity (Schwab et al., 2015).

Strategies to Strengthen Exercise Identity in Master Athletes

Goal Setting & Realisation

Setting realistic, achievable goals is paramount for enhancing exercise identity. Research indicates that goal-setting can improve motivation and self-efficacy, fostering a greater identification with an athlete's abilities and accomplishments (Burton et al., 2010). For master athletes, establishing both short-term and long-term goals contributes to a sense of progress and achievement, reinforcing their athlete identity. These goals have to be bounded by an understanding of physiological and neuromuscular deprecation and be underpinned by a concomitant passion to evolve healthy supportive lifestyle practices.

Social Support and Community Engagement

Master athletes can benefit significantly from social support networks. According to research, social interactions and participation in community sports groups enhance one’s sense of belonging and identity (Carron et al., 2002). Engaging with hockey playing peers who share similar experiences creates a supportive environment that reinforces your athletic identity. Finding the right group is not as easy as the researchers will have you believe. Attempting to socialise with a group where there is a poor alignment of goals, values, behaviors and culture can be acutely counter-productive. 

Take your time and find your tribe or build one.

Emphasizing Personal Narratives

Encouraging masters players to reflect on their journey, achievements, and the challenges they have overcome can solidify their exercise identity. Writing or sharing personal narratives about their experiences in sports can lead to deeper self-awareness and a stronger connection to their athletic self (Lundqvist & Raglin, 2015). This reflective practice can reinforce the athlete's commitment and identity. It is important that the group environment of the team is conducive to this non judgemental sharing through both face to face and digital-social channels. 

Participatory Approaches

Engaging in coaching or mentoring roles allows master athletes to share their knowledge and experiences, further solidifying their identity as athletes. Being involved in leadership roles within a club and or team can enhance feelings of ownership and investment in the sport, strengthening exercise identity (Smith et al., 2014). Leadership groups are an interesting vehicle for driving participation and autonomy in high performance teams. All too often they are instituted with an appropriate sentiment and objective but so many times they fall foul of a Numero Uno who pays lip service to the conversations and input from the group’s members. In these instances the group is nothing more than a box-ticking exercise. Implementing a platform to harness a cadre of motivated, enthusiastic and knowledgeable senior players should never be deemed a threat to the coaching group but rather capitalised on as the engine to power more complete preparation and broader buy-in and support from the entire squad.

Physical Activity Framing

Framing physical activity not training not merely as exercise but as a part of one's lifestyle or a critical component of identity can enhance commitment. Encouraging masters players to view their training as integral to their existence rather than simply a pursuit of fitness can foster a stronger exercise identity (Crocker et al., 2006). The strongest lure here is an engagement with exercise physiologists and their ilk who can map out the health upsides to regular, cumulative exercise doses. Hockey is part of a prescriptive health plan for aging, not just a social activity or hit and giggle.

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