Motor performance anxiety and its relationship to shooting accuracy from high jumps among Al-Rumaytha handball club's junior players

Abstract

     The present study aimed to identify the relationship between motor performance anxiety and the accuracy of jump shooting among junior players of Al-Rumaitha Handball Club during the sports season (2024–2025). The importance of this study lies in highlighting the role of psychological factors, particularly anxiety, in influencing the performance of fundamental skills in handball. Psychological readiness is considered an essential component alongside physical, technical, and tactical preparation, especially for junior players who are more susceptible to emotional and psychological pressures during competitions. The researcher adopted the descriptive approach using the survey and correlational method, as it is suitable for identifying relationships between variables without manipulating them. The study sample consisted of (20) junior players from Al-Rumaitha Handball Club, who were selected intentionally to represent the research population. The players were relatively homogeneous in terms of training background and competitive experience, which helped ensure consistency in the results. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher used two main tools: a jump shooting accuracy test and a motor performance anxiety questionnaire consisting of (26) items. The shooting accuracy test was designed to measure the players’ ability to perform jump shots accurately toward specified target areas in the goal. Meanwhile, the anxiety questionnaire was administered to assess the level of motor performance anxiety experienced by the players prior to competition. The data collected were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, including arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and correlation coefficient.The results revealed a statistically significant inverse relationship between motor performance anxiety and jump shooting accuracy. The findings indicated that players with higher levels of anxiety demonstrated lower shooting accuracy, whereas players with lower anxiety levels achieved better performance in jump shooting. These results confirm that psychological factors, particularly anxiety, play an important role in determining the level of skill performance among junior handball players. The study concluded that reducing motor performance anxiety can contribute to improving the accuracy of jump shooting and overall performance in handball. Therefore.