IDENTIFYING STRESSORS EXPERIENCED BY UNIVERSITY LEVEL NETBALL SHOOTERS AND COPING STRATEGIES USED TO MAINTAIN OR ENHANCE PERFORMANCE.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to identify stressors experienced by university level netball shooters and the coping strategies chosen used to either maintain or enhance performance. A qualitative approach was taken by conducting two separate semi-structured interviews (stressors and coping) with eight netball shooters from the first or second team at Cardiff Metropolitan University. The semi-structured interviews allowed for richer, more in depth information to be obtained for both the stressors experienced and the coping strategies used to overcome these stressors. Through inductive and deductive data analysis 16 stressors were identified under 6 different themes. The most common stressors highlighted by the participants were missing shots, the presence of defenders and the expectations of coaches and team mates. 3 higher order coping themes were identified with 9 individual coping strategies utilised by participants. Problem focused coping was the most common function of participants used on 30 occasions; the most common form of problem based coping was self-talk used on 10 of the 30 occasions. The results of this study can be used to facilitate performance as players and coaches can implement effective coping strategies to maintain or enhance performance when overcoming shooting related stressors in netball.