The Sports Student Activity Unit (UKM Olahraga) of Universitas Muria Kudus held its 2025 Working Meeting (RAKER) under the theme “Strengthening Perception Integration as a Pillar of Sustainability and Athletic Excellence in UKM Sports.”
According to the Head of UKM Sports for the 2025 period, Fattakhul Munir Wildan Syafian, the event aimed to strengthen organizational commitment among members while encouraging sustainable program development and long-term achievement motivation.
As part of the program, the committee invited Ruth N. Susanti, M.Psi., Psychologist, as the keynote speaker. In her session, she discussed athletic motivation through the framework of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Ruth, who also teaches the Athlete Performance Actualization course at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Muria Kudus, encouraged participants to understand how motivation can evolve—from merely avoiding failure to developing intrinsic motivation for continuous growth.
Understanding Motivation: From Fear of Punishment to Personal Growth
During the session, Ruth used a series of interactive activities to explain four major motivational orientations within SDT: performance approach, performance avoidance, mastery approach, and mastery avoidance.
1. Ice Breaking Session: Punishment as an Initial Motivator (Performance Avoidance)
The session began with a game in which participants had to complete challenges in order to avoid punishment.
This activity illustrated performance-avoidance motivation, where individuals act primarily to prevent negative consequences rather than pursue genuine success.
In sports settings, this pattern often appears in athletes who train merely to avoid criticism or punishment from coaches, instead of being internally motivated to improve themselves.
2. Tallest Tower Competition: Chasing Achievement (Performance Approach)
Participants were then challenged to build the tallest tower, with rewards provided for the winning group.
This activity reflected performance-approach motivation, where individuals are driven by competition and the desire to outperform others.
In athletics, this type of motivation is commonly seen in athletes striving for victory as proof of superiority and competence.
3. Reflection Through a Farewell Song: Fear of Losing Competence (Mastery Avoidance)
In the next session, participants listened to an emotionally reflective farewell-themed song.
This activity represented mastery-avoidance motivation, where individuals continue practicing primarily because they fear losing their abilities or experiencing decline.
This dynamic is often found in athletes who persist in training not because they seek growth, but because they fear losing their current level of performance.
4. The Hope Tree: Commitment to Self-Development (Mastery Approach)
As the closing activity, participants wrote personal self-development commitments on sticky notes and attached them to a “hope tree.”
This symbolized mastery-approach motivation, where individuals are internally driven to grow, learn, and improve without relying heavily on external pressure.
Athletes with this type of motivation tend to sustain performance more consistently because they genuinely value the learning process and personal development itself.
Reflection and Future Expectations
During the discussion session, Ruth emphasized that understanding motivation is essential for athletes and organizational members in maintaining long-term enthusiasm and resilience.
“Healthy motivation is not only about winning or avoiding defeat. It is also about enjoying the process and continuing to grow. Athletes who understand their own motivation more deeply are usually better prepared to handle pressure and maintain consistent performance,” she explained.
The 2025 Working Meeting of UKM Sports at Universitas Muria Kudus ultimately became more than just a forum for designing organizational programs. It also served as a reflective space where participants could better understand themselves, their goals, and the psychological foundations behind sustainable achievement.
Through this comprehensive approach, the organizers hope that the motivation developed during the event will continue to support both personal growth and future athletic accomplishments.
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Written by Ruth NS
Lecturer of Psychology, Universitas Muria Kudus
Founder of PhiliaTalks