Abstract
This study examined the perceptions of amateur athletes and whether or not their athletic experience has influenced their development of positive life skills, with an emphasis on problem solving and self-efficacy. This research utilized a descriptive study with an online questionnaire survey to solicit responses from suitable respondents through a convenient sampling method with snow ball strategy. Initial study participants were chosen by the researcher through personal connections within her various athletic communities. There were a total number of 137 participants who initiated the survey, with 102 participants completing the entire survey (N=102), making a completion rate of 74%. The remaining 35 participants did not complete 75% or more of the survey, therefore those surveys were removed from the data that was analyzed. The study findings indicate that the majority of subjects in this study positively attribute their participation in athletic activities to their development of problem solving skills and self-efficacy. There were statistically significant differences in the scores between genders, as the average of the scores for the problem solving inventory and self-efficacy scale were higher for the males than those of the females. Further studies can delve more deeply into the experience of athletic participation and positive development of life skills to see if this can be generalizable to an entire population. By understanding not only the physical, but the social, emotional, and psychological benefits of athletic activity and exercise can assist social workers in better serving their clients.