Assessment of tactical thinking and mental alertness levels among junior handball players in Iraq

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop a tactical thinking test and a mental alertness scale, establish levels for the tactical thinking test and the mental alertness scale for junior handball players in Iraq, and determine the level of tactical thinking and mental alertness among junior handball players in Iraq. Researchers used a survey methodology, a descriptive approach, to identify the tactical thinking and mental alertness of junior handball players in Iraq. The research population consisted of junior handball players from 10 clubs in Iraq, with 16 players from each club, totaling 160 players for the 2024-2025 sports season. The sample for developing the measurement instruments comprised 100 players (62.5%), while the application sample consisted of 60 players (37.5%). The measurement instruments were then developed using scientific methods and subsequently administered to determine the players' levels of tactical thinking and mental alertness. Appropriate statistical methods were used to analyze the data, relying on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. The results showed that junior handball players possessed an average level of tactical thinking and mental alertness. The recommendations included utilizing the measurement instruments for tactical thinking and mental alertness in handball, which the researchers developed and which were structured into five levels, to assess these skills. (Tactical and Mental Awareness).