A study on coping skills among male cricketers of different age category

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the coping skills of male cricketers among different age category. The total number of subjects participated in the study was 102, (34 U-19 cricketers, 34 U-25 cricketers and 34 senior cricketers aged above 25). The subjects were from different clubs and play in different divisions in TNCA (Tamil Nadu Cricket Association) league. Coping skills ability was assessed by Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (Smith et al, 1995). Athletic Coping Skills inventory consist of 7 dimensions - Coping with Adversity, Coachability, Concentration, Confidence and Achievement Motivation, Goal setting and mental preparation, Peaking under Pressure and Freedom from Worry. One-way Analysis of Variance (one-way ANOVA) was used to examine the difference in coping skills among cricketers and there was no significant difference in coping skills among U-19 Cricketers, U-25 Cricketers and Senior cricketers. Although there was no significant difference in Coping Skills among cricketers, Senior Cricketers (mean=58.35) had better Coping Skills compared to U-25 Cricketers (mean=57.02) and U-19 Cricketers (mean=55.14). All the group had got less scores in Freedom from worry and peaking under pressure and all the groups got good scores in Coachability and Confidence and Achievement Motivation. This study revealed that there was no significant difference in the coping skills among different age category cricketers.