Sportsmanship and Its Relationship to Psychological Adjustment among Épée Fencers in Kirkuk Clubs

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the levels of sportsmanship and psychological adjustment among épée fencers in Kirkuk clubs, as well as to examine the correlation between these two variables. The researchers adopted the descriptive method in the correlational survey style, as it is suitable for the nature of the research problem.

The research population consisted of (38) épée fencers representing (7) clubs affiliated with the Kirkuk Provincial Fencing Sub-Federation. Four athletes were selected for the pilot study, while the main sample included (34) athletes, representing (89.5%) of the original population. The researchers used standardized scales of sportsmanship and psychological adjustment to measure their levels among the athletes. The data were statistically processed using the SPSS software package.

The findings indicated that épée fencers in Kirkuk clubs demonstrated a high level of sportsmanship and a good level of psychological adjustment. Furthermore, the study revealed a statistically significant correlation between sportsmanship and psychological adjustment among the athletes. Based on these findings, the researchers recommend that coaches focus on developing sportsmanship and psychological adjustment, given their significant role in enhancing athletes’ performance. They also recommend including a sports psychologist within the technical staff to foster and strengthen sportsmanship among less experienced players and to emphasize the importance of this factor in improving their psychological adjustment.