Original scientific paper

Psychological characteristics of slovene handball goalkeepers

Tanja Kajtna ; Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dinko Vuleta ; Kineziološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Maja Pori ; Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Igor Justin ; Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Primož Pori ; Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

Handball is a fast, dynamic sport and the role of the goalkeeper is especially exposed. However, little attention is paid in science to the development of the goalkeeper. This research is focused on the psychological characteristics of handball goalkeepers, specifically with regard to aggression, anxiety, reaction times, fluid intelligence and concentration. More and less successful goalkeepers were compared in these characteristics. Forty-six participants were included – 23 of them were more successful and 23 less successful, according to an expert evaluation. The more successful goalkeepers were also significantly older. The data was collected in 2010 and 2011. The instruments used were Buss-Durkee Aggression Questionnaire, Spielberger’s Anxiety
Inventory (STAIX – 1 and 2), the Test of Series for measuring fluid intelligence, the Test of Attention for measuring concentration, and the CRD Series for measuring reaction times. One-way analysis of variance
(ANOVA) was used to compare both groups. Several significant differences between both groups were found – the less successful goalkeepers had a faster simple reaction time and made fewer mistakes when reacting to simple stimuli. They were also quicker in response times to simple visual orientation stimuli and seemed to
lose less time when reacting to different stimuli. It thus seems that neither reaction times, fluid intelligence nor concentration, anxiety or aggression has influence on the quality of handball goalkeepers. The obtained result is easily explained with the age of the participants since the investigated abilities gradually decrease over time.

Keywords

team handball; goalkeepers; aggression; anxiety; reaction times; fluid intelligence; attention

Hrčak ID:

94558

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/94558

Publication date:

31.12.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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