Sources of Stress and Coping Mechanisms among Under-Twenty High School Athletes: A Study Conducted at the Zimbabwe National Youth Games (Znyg) Manicaland 2013 Chapter

The world today is replete with stressful situations whether at home or in away-from home situations. To live meaningful lives, people should learn to cope with the stress which has become part of everyday life. Without adequate coping strategies there is threat to health which may even lead to premature death. The aim of the study was establishing sources of stress and coping strategies among high school athletes. A population of 183 Zimbabwe National Youth Games Manicaland Chapter was available for this study. Fifty athletes actually took part in this study .Data collection was by a structured questionnaire. Findings revealed the most stressful factors among high school athletes to be injury and illness, pressure of competition, the referee and conflict with the coach. The least perceived stress originated from spectators. The athletes identified almost the same extent of the use of the approach and avoidant styles as stress coping strategies. The findings also recorded a good number of respondents who were not able to specify whether they were using approach or avoidance techniques in handling stress in sports. The findings in this study were generally consistent with the finding of researchers in other countries. The study recommends the need for sports psychologist to man ZNYG athletes to help them develop stress coping mechanisms. It would also be helpful if coaches and trainers in high schools were also exposed to skills that would enable them to assist the young athletes with any necessary stress-coping mechanisms.