Sportspersonship in Elite Sports: on the Effects of Personal and Environmental Factors on the Display of Sportspersonship Among Elite Male Handball Players

The present study investigates the characteristics of sportspersonship inelite handball. Results revealed a negative relationship between observed behaviour and the criteria for sportspersonship as presented by Vallerand and Losier (1994). This was especially evident with regard to players’ respect for officials, rules and opponents.Primarily ego-oriented goal perspectives were identified as making a reduction in sportspersonship evident. Moreover, social expectations significantly influenced players’ attitudes and their social, moral behaviour. In this respect the coach proved to be a major source of influence, especially on the less experienced younger players.Sportspersonship was primarily dependent on the subjective measurements ofutility,which predisposed the players to act out of self-interest (egoistic)and the interests of their team (tribalistic). Consistent with previous research presented by Vallerand, et al. (1997a), the results in general underscore the influence of the social context on moral behaviour in team sports.