Creative Thinking and its Relationship to Social Interaction among Female Handball Players in the Middle Euphrates Governorates

Abstract

Creative thinking is a higher-order cognitive process that helps female players devise appropriate solutions to changing situations during competitions and make quick, unconventional deisions, thus contributing to improved individual and team performance.

Handball stands out as a team sport that demands a high degree of cooperation, understanding, and continuous communication among players. This makes social interaction a fundamental element in achieving team cohesion and enhancing tactical and technical performance. Through her observation of handball tournaments and sporting events in the Middle Euphrates governorates, the researcher noted variations in the players' levels of creative thinking and social interaction. This prompted a study of these two variables to uncover the nature of the relationship between them.

The study aimed to identify the level of creative thinking and social interaction among female handball players in the Middle Euphrates governorates, as well as to reveal the nature of the correlation between these two variables. This was achieved by developing two scales suitable for the sporting environment and the research sample.

The study hypothesized a statistically significant correlation between creative thinking and social interaction among female handball players in the Middle Euphrates governorates. The researcher adopted a descriptive approach using correlational methods, as it was suitable for the nature of the problem and the research objectives. The study sample consisted of female handball players representing training centers affiliated with the sports and scouting departments in the Middle Euphrates governorates, as they constituted the target group for the study.

The study results showed that the female handball players possessed a good level of creative thinking and social interaction. Furthermore, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between the two variables, indicating that a high level of creative thinking among the players contributes to enhancing social interaction within the team and increases the effectiveness of cooperation, communication, and coordination during training and sports competitions.

In light of the results, the researcher recommended that coaches and sports federations focus on developing creative thinking among female handball players by adopting modern training methods and diverse playing situations. She also recommended working to enhance social interaction among the players through psychological and educational programs and group activities, as well as conducting future studies that address other psychological and social variables and their relationship to athletic performance in team sports..