Team psychology as a factor in the formation of resilient sports teams in youth handball

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of team psychology as a key factor in the formation of sustainable sports teams in youth handball. The purpose of the study is to identify psychological mechanisms that ensure the sustainability of youth handball teams and establish the role of the coach in the formation of an appropriate team psychological culture. In the course of the scientific study, general scientific methods of cognition were used: analysis, synthesis, systematization, comparison, as well as content analysis of scientific publications and structural-logical generalization of empirical data. The results of the study showed that teenage handball players who have developed resilience resources - in particular, self-acceptance and a sense of their own competence - cope much better with pre-competition excitement and prevent it from turning into destructive anxiety. It was found that somatic and cognitive anxiety decrease in proportion to the increase in resilience, and this effect increases with increasing sports experience. At the same time, it was found that the level of group cohesion during the season is a statistically significant predictor of the intention of players to continue playing for the same team - and this connection is relevant for both older and younger age groups. Six psychological characteristics that together form team spirit in youth handball are separately systematized: group cohesion, motivational climate, intra-team communication, psychological safety, team identity, and self-efficacy. Each of them is connected to the others through specific mechanisms: for example, the leadership of the coach, aimed at forming a common "we", increases the team identification of the players, which, in turn, creates an environment of psychological safety, where athletes can openly admit mistakes and seek help. It is through these chains of influence that coaching becomes a key factor in team resilience, and not just in the technical improvement of players. It is emphasized that the psychological literacy of the coach is a necessary condition for the conscious management of these processes. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of using the obtained results in the development of psychological training programs for youth handball teams and advanced training of coaching staff.