Psychology Research, ISSN 2159-5542 November 2012, Vol. 2, No. 11, 662-670 The Use of Nonmonetary Incentives as a Motivational Tool in Sports Tshepang Tshube Michigan State University, Michigan, USA Dele Akpata University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana Brandon Irwin Kansas State University, Kansas, USA This study examined the extent to which athletes are motivated by social and tangible nonmonetary incentives. Junior (ages 13−18) and elite (19 and above) athletes (190 males and 180 females) from different clubs in Botswana responded to a questionnaire assessing their perceptions of and the extent to which they were motivated by tangible (e.g., cars and scholarships) and social (e.g., media coverage and praise from leaders, e.g., president) nonmonetary incentives. Results showed that Botswana athletes placed significant value (p < 0.001) on both tangible and social nonmonetary incentives regardless of gender and age. Also, results indicated that the level of importance on both tangible and social nonmonetary incentives varied by sport. Boxing reported the least value (M = 1.85) on the importance of social nonmonetary incentives while volleyball reported the highest value (M = 2.80). Netball reported the least value (M = 2.33) on tangible nonmonetary incentives while basketball reported the hightest mean (M = 3.21). Results suggest that nonmonetary incentives may be a useful supplement to monetary incentives in motivating athletes to win medals, particularly in Africa where economies are struggling. Results are discussed within the self-determination theory. Keywords: nonmonetary, social incentives, tangible incentives, motivation, monetary incentives, self-determination theory Introduction The debate on the use of external rewards for intrinsic motivation has been going on for over three decades (Amorose & Horn, 2000; Amorose, Horne, & Miller, 1994; Butler, 1987; Cameron & Pierce, 1994; Deci, 1971; Eisenberger & Cameron, 1996; Ryan & Deci, 2000; Vallerand & Rousseau, 2001). Rather than address the literature on the longer and long-standing debate between extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation, this paper provides an account of how monetary, nonmonetary, and social events are significantly valued as motivational tools among athletes in Botswana. The interpretation of external rewards affects intrinsic motivation as either informational or controlling (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Countries use monetary rewards and social events to motivate athletes to win medals at major games. Athletes have been promised cars and a lot of money if they win medals for their counties at major games, such as the Commonwealth Games, the World Championships, and the Olympics. The Ugandan government had put forward $5,000 as a reward to every gold medal winner at Tshepang Tshube, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University. Dele Akpata, Ph.D., Department of Physical Education, University of Botswana. Brandon Irwin, Ph.D., Kinesiology Department, Kansas State University. DAVID PUBLISHING D