This study aimed to examine the effect of sports training on student motivation. A total of 318 students (166 male and 152 female) enrolled in the Faculty of Sports Sciences participated in the research. The Motivation in Sports Scale-SSI was employed as the primary data collection instrument. Data were analyzed using an independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and LSD post hoc tests. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between male and female participants in terms of height and body weight (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was found between male and female students in overall motivational orientation scores (p > 0.05). When motivational orientation subscale scores were compared based on participants’ involvement in sports, a significant difference was observed between students who did not actively participate in competitions and those who were involved in either team or individual sports (p < 0.05). No significant differences were identified in intrinsic or extrinsic motivation levels of student-athletes based on gender (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that motivation levels among students receiving sports education do not differ significantly by gender. However, students who are actively involved in competitive sports—whether in team or individual formats—demonstrate higher motivation levels compared to their non-competing peers. These results suggest that active participation in sports positively influences motivation and may reduce levels of amotivation. Future research is recommended with larger and more diverse sample groups representing various levels of athletic engagement. Article visualizations
