PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR SPORT PERFORMANCE IN ADOLESCENT PLAYERS OF HANDBALL

The aim of the present research was the analysis of the psychological characteristics related to the sport performance of handball players according to the variables gender, game category, years of federated sport experience and tactical position. A non experimental study was carried out according to a non-probability sample of 149 players (87 boys and 62 girls). The Questionnaire of Psychological Characteristics related to Sport Perfomance Questionnaire (CPRD) was used. T de Student and ANOVA analyses were conducted. The results showed that the most experienced players had greater psychological resources to control competitive stress and a possible negative evaluation of their sports performance; the latter aspect, in which girls were also shown to be superior to boys. On the other hand, depending on the specific position, it was the lateral ones that reflected greater psychological abilities. These results confirm the importance of the analysis and control of psychological characteristics related to sports performance, since it has been demonstrated that psychological interventions must have a differential aspect.