Investigation of the relationship between emotional intelligence and sportsmanship behavior levels of students participating in school sports

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the emotional intelligence and sportsmanship behavior levels of student athletes who take part in the girls and boys basketball teams competing in the star and junior category in the basketball semi-finals organized by the Turkish School Sports Federation within the scope of school sports. In the research, it is envisaged that suggestions will be made for planning emotional intelligence training to improve the sportsmanship behavior of national and international professional basketball player candidates, and that it will make positive contributions to the sports lives of the athletes and indirectly to their social lives. Quantitative research method was used in the research. The sample of the research is a simple random sample of the 10-17 age group middle school and high school athletes participating in the girls and boys semi-finals in the school sports basketball star and youth a categories, which are included in the school sports activity program of the 2022-2023 season academic year. It consists of 239 students selected by the method. Emotional Intelligence and Multidimensional Sportsmanship Orientation scales were applied to the participants. SPSS statistical package program was used in the analysis of the obtained data. Frequency analysis, percentage trend analysis, factor analysis, correlation analysis were performed descriptively in the analyses. The findings obtained as a result of the analysis were interpreted and reported. According to the research results; a significant and weak relationship was found between the emotional intelligence and sportsmanship behavior levels of the athlete students. The use of emotional intelligence by basketball athlete students can be associated with their sportsmanship behaviors in basketball competitions. Course or weekly course topics that will increase the emotional intelligence development of students studying at this level can be added to the curriculum. In this sense, the study can give ideas about students' emotional intelligence training needs, career development and improvement areas.