Female Handball Players of Jammu: Motivations, Constraints, Personality and Self-Esteem

The present research was conducted to study the Personality, Self-Esteem, Motivations, and problems faced by female Handball players of Jammu province. The total sample for the present research was 30 female handball players in the age group of 13-25 years, identified by snowball sampling technique. Two scales were used for the study (a) The Self- Esteem scale. (b) Big Five Inventory; besides this an interview schedule was also constructed. Results reveal that majority of respondents started playing handball before reaching the 10th class, were in the age group of 13-19 years, were second born, and belonged to the Nuclear Families. Majority of respondents had played up to National Level. They did not have any other sports person in their family, but for playing Handball they had support from their family, and moreover their family had positive attitude towards their sports. Their parents permitted them to attend residential camps and tours. Majority of respondents believed that there was advantage in playing Handball because they got job opportunities and there is a special sports quota. Majority of respondents faced problems while travelling because most of time they must travel with male coaches which made them uncomfortable in sharing any problems with them. They also faced problems at the time of selection for National Level tournaments and any other tournaments because they believed that selections were not done fair. Majority of respondents have suggested that sports authorities should organize several tournaments for the promotion of this game in Jammu province. This study also reveals that Female Handball players have high Self-Esteem but had low extraversion scores on Big Five Inventory though they scored moderately on Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism. Majority of the females scored high on openness dimensions of personality.