HOW DO FOOTBALLERS COPE WITH STRESS?

Background: Stress is an inseparable attribute of sports activities. The answer to the question of how to effectively cope with stress in a competition is one of the most important challenges of sports psychology. The aim of this research is to analyze the stress-management strategies used by football players. Methods: Participants in the study were 32 students of physical education specializing in football and 39 students of management, aged between 19 and 27 years (M = 21.41, SD = 1.76), including 24 women (34% of all respondents). Coping strategies were assessed through application of the multi-dimensional COPE inventory. Results: In comparison with the sample of management students, the group of footballers use the strategy of positive reinterpretation and growth significantly more often, and less frequently use alcohol or other psychoactive substances in a stressful situation. Women use the strategy of seeking emotional support significantly more often than men, while significantly less often using psychoactive substances and humor. Conclusion: This research revealed that trainers and sport psychologists should take into account gender differences and the specificity of the sports discipline of the athletes when working on selection of the best strategies for coping with stress during competitions.