The peculiarities of conflicts among sportsmen of different mastership levels practicing individual and team sports

Due to their diversity, complexity and relevance, conflicts are the object of research in many scientific fields. Conflict research in the area of sport activities is undoubtedly relevant, because daily practice of sport activities produces many examples of “edgy” and tense disagreements among the following subjects: sportsmen, coaches, administration staff, sports clubs, referees, etc. Due to this, the focus on the problems of sport conflicts is purposeful. Therefore, the problem of the research was the peculiarities of conflicts among sportsmen of different mastership levels practicing individual and team sports. Thus the aim of the research was to reveal the peculiarities of conflicts among sportsmen of different mastership levels practicing individual and team sports. In order to achieve the said aim, the following objectives were pursued: 1. To determine the dominant conflict resolution strategies among sportsmen of different mastership levels practicing individual and team sports. 2. To investigate the frequency of conflicts prevailing among sportsmen of different mastership levels practicing individual and team sports. 3. To identify the main reasons of conflicts among sportsmen of different mastership levels practicing individual and team sports. Hence, the hypothesis of the research was as follows: it is likely that sportsmen of different mastership levels practicing individual and team sports use different conflict resolution strategies. In the research, which was carried out at the Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education, sportsmen of low and high mastership practicing individual and team sports took part. There were 50 sportsmen practicing individual sports; from them 23 were of low and 27 of high mastership. What is more, another 50 sportsmen who participated in the research were practicing team sports; from them 26 were of low and 24 of high mastership (sportsmen of low mastership — amateur sportsmen, sportsmen of high mastership — sportsmen participating in the Lithuanian and European championships, members of Lithuanian national teams). Methods of the research used: analysis of scientific literature; K. Thomas’ methodology for determining types of reactions to conflict situations, methodology for investigating the frequency of conflicts among sportsmen in teams; and statistical analysis. During the research, the hypothesis (sportsmen of different mastership levels practicing individual and team sports use different conflict resolution strategies) was partially confirmed. K. Thomas’ methodology helped to determine the differences in terms of competition between the sportsmen of low and high mastership practicing individual sports. Competition reactions were more common to sportsmen of high mastership (p < 0.05). In terms of compromise reactions, significant differences were determined between sportsmen of low and high mastership practicing individual sports. Compromise reactions were more characteristic to sportsmen of low mastership (p < 0.05). Moreover, after the analysis of the frequency of conflicts among sportsmen, statistically reliable differences between sportsmen of low and high mastership practicing individual sports were determined. For instance, sportsmen of high mastership were less prone to conflicts (p < 0.05). Furthermore, it was determined, that intra-group conflicts during the training sessions were less common among sportsmen of high mastership practising individual sports (p < 0.05). In addition, during competitions, conflicts among teams were more frequent in the teams of sportsmen of low mastership practicing individual sports (p < 0.05). What is more, statistically significant differences between personality and group were identified between sportsmen of low and high mastership practicing team sports. This type of conflicts is less prevalent in the teams of sportsmen of high mastership (p < 0.05). The analysis of data gathered from answers to the question “What are the main reasons of conflicts?” helped to establish statistically significant differences in the following answers of sportsmen practicing individual sports: disregard for the personality (p < 0.01), tactlessness, rudeness (p < 0.05), breach of unity between words and actions (p < 0.05), avoidance of responsibility (p < 0.05), inconsiderateness, insensibility (p < 0.01). These reasons of conflicts were more frequent among sportsmen of low mastership. Meanwhile, taking into account sportsmen of low and high mastership practicing team sports, statistically reliable differences were determined in relation to the answer “tactlessness, rudeness” (p < 0.05). This reason is more common among sportsmen of low mastership