The Effect of a Proposed Psychological Training Program on Reducing Competitive Anxiety and Developing Psychological Hardiness among First-Division Handball Players

Abstract

competitive anxiety and developing psychological hardiness among first-division handball players at Al-Taawoun Sports Club during the 2025–2026 sports season. The researcher employed an experimental method using a pretest–posttest design with two equivalent groups (experimental and control). The study sample consisted of 22 players, who were equally divided into two groups, with 11 players in each group. For 10 week, experimental group follow psychological training program. Program held three time within every week, and one session take around 45 minute. Within total, player receive regular psychological training as part of intervention during study period. The program incorporated progressive muscle relaxation, mental imagery, breathing regulation, positive self-talk, goal setting, concentration exercises, and mindfulness training. The researcher used Martens' Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) to measure competitive anxiety across its three dimensions and Sheard's Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire to assess psychological hardiness across its three dimensions: control, constancy, and confidence. The results revealed statistically significant differences between the pretest and posttest scores of the experimental group in favor of the posttest across all study variables. Statistically significant differences were also found between the experimental and control groups in the posttest, favoring the experimental group. The study concluded that the proposed psychological training program was effective in reducing competitive anxiety and developing psychological hardiness. The researcher recommended implementing the program among first-division handball teams in Iraqi sports clubs and incorporating psychological preparation into the comprehensive training system for handball.