The Coping Strategies Employed by Female College Athletes after Losing a Game

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the coping strategies employed by university athletes who have lost in a competition. A sample of ten hand ball women athletes (age between 21-24 years old) who represented one of the largest universities in Kuala Lumpur in the Malaysian Inter-varsity games agreed to participate in this study. All of the athletes have signed the consent letter, giving their permission for the interview to be recorded. The result for content analysis has identified two major dimensions; 1) how athletes cope, and 2) ways to cope. In the first dimension (how athletes cope), three major themes have emerged from the interview, which are social support, problem solving, and doing other activities. On the other hand, the second dimension (ways to cope) has identified two major themes, which are concentration and self confidence. However, social support has been claimed by losing athletes as the main coping strategy used to overcome their grief after losing the competition. Suggestions are also recommended in the paper.

The Coping Strategies among Student-Athletes who have to Let Go their Academic Goal

“…In any competition, athletes also have to bare in mind that they also have to confront and cope with losing. On the other hand, Omar-Fauzee, Abd-Latif, Tajularipin, Manja and Rattanakoses (2011) found that athletes who lost their game also quest for social support and psychological skills to cope with their emotional frustration. Therefore, the usage of psychological skills including coping strategy of winning or losing, concentration, goal setting, imagery, and self-confidence will helps to raise their motivation in order to maintain their peak performances (Rattanakoses, Omar-Fauzee & Soh, 2009).…”