Fear of Contact in Handball Perceived by Players of a Under 11 Team

Abstract

This article examines the fear of contact as perceived by participants in an under-elevens handball team. The work is based on a content analysis of the training sessions and official matches of 14 children (aged 9-10) playing for an under-elevens handball team in Zaragoza, Spain. Data was analysed with NVIVO 10 software. Results showed that the three types of contacts that were considered in the study - interpersonal (gripping and pushing), ball-body (shots at goal and blocking) and body-floor (falling and being knocked over) - generate similar levels of fear. Personal contact is feared when teams face attacks and fear of contact with ball arises when the children play in goal or have to make defensive blocks. Fear of contact with the ground was also referenced in attacking situations. The presence of fear should be taken into account in the contemplation of teaching-learning processes and the development of an intervention programme that gradually increases the degree of impact and contact in handball instruction is recommended.