Introduction. Several studies showed that motivation and performance are strongly influenced by the beliefs of self-efficacy. The aim of this research is to investigate the correlations between motivation to sport, prevalent motivational orientation, perceived self-efficacy, and performance in basketball. Method: 60 basketball athletes (41 men and 19 women), between 16 and 55 years old (M = 26 ± 5,99 years), completed the Participation Motivation Questionnaire, the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire, and Basketball Efficacy Beliefs Scales. Results: Participants are motivated by the desire to win, the need to do something where they feel able, the need to enjoy themselves. The evaluation of the perceived self-efficacy provides an indication of the strengths and the weaknesses of athletes. Conclusions: In order to develop training plans and intervention strategies, it is essential to evaluate self-efficacy beliefs and the prevalent motivational orientation in sports contexts. Results can then be useful for a possible design of a program for athletes self-efficacy enhancing.
