Background: Sports success in taekwondo is influenced by various variables; including psychological Characteristics, nevertheless, a systematic research does not examine the role of these factors in various competitive levels. What is the difference between the psychological profile of SUCCESSFUL and less SUCCESSFUL Taekwondo ATHLETES? Aim: the purpose of this study was to comparison of Psychological profile between SUCCESSFUL and less SUCCESSFUL taekwondo ATHLETES. Method: Present research method was causative-comparative, the population of this study included all Iranian taekwondo ATHLETES that of this statistical population 70 SUCCESSFUL (in Asian Games and World) and the 70 less SUCCESSFUL (in competitions city) taekwondo was selected by purposive sampling and completed the questionnaires of Mental Skills (Bush & Salmela, 2001), Mental toughness (sheard et al, 2009), Competitive anxiety (Martenz, 1997) and Sport Motivation (Maltt et al, 2007). Data were analyzed through analysis of variance Mann-Whitney U tests Results: The results showed that excluding the sport motivation variable, there is a significant difference between psychological profile of Taekwondo ATHLETES in all mental Skills, mental toughness, and competitive anxiety variables, and this difference was observed to be in favor of SUCCESSFUL Taekwondo ATHLETES (p>0/05). Conclusion: Considering this results SUCCESSFUL taekwondo ATHLETES have a higher score in all above variables (Except sport motivation) than less SUCCESSFUL taekwondo ATHLETES so psychological intervention is needed for less SUCCESSFUL taekwondo ATHLETES.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-esteem and achievement motivation among SUCCESSFUL and unSUCCESSFUL ATHLETES in West Azerbaijan Province.Methods: Two-hundred ATHLETES were divided into two groups of SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES (n=100, 50 males and 50 females) and unSUCCESSFUL ATHLETES (n=100, 50 males and 50 females) while the term «SUCCESSFUL» means that the subject has win medals at national and international official competitions and «unSUCCESSFUL» means he/she has not been able to do so. Gill and Deter's sport orientation scale (SOQ) (1998) and revised self-esteem questionnaire (Cupper-Smith, 1968) were the assessment instruments used in this study. Pearson Correlation and t-test (α<0.05) were applied for the statistical analysis of data.Results: The results showed that there is a significant correlation between self-esteem and achievement motivation in both studied groups. Moreover, SUCCESSFUL and unSUCCESSFUL ATHLETES significantly differed in terms of self-esteem and achievement motivation so that self-esteem and achievement motivation were significantly higher in SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES compared to unSUCCESSFUL ATHLETES.Conclusion: It seems that ATHLETES’ beliefs interfere with their performance. Therefore equal attention must be paid to fitness and sport skills and motivational variables through appropriate physical education and providing conditions in which ATHLETES feel competence and motivation and experience success. Coaches are advised to provide timely feedback, necessary support and constructive criticism in order to give their students the opportunity to be aware of their capabilities and increase their achievement motivation accordingly.

The aim of this study is investigation of the relationship between fear of success (FOS) and achievement motivation among SUCCESSFUL and unSUCCESSFUL ATHLETES in Azarbaijan -Gharbi Province. The subjects of study were 200 ATHLETES, divided into two groups of men and women: 100 SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES, SUCCESSFUL in gaining medals in interior and international official competitions and 100 unSUCCESSFUL ATHLETES, unSUCCESSFUL in gaining medals. Instruments of the study were Gill and Deter's sport (1998) orientation scale (SOQ) and Zukerman's fear of success questionnaire (FOSS, 1976). For analyzing data, Pearsoon Correlation and t-test (a=.05) were used. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between FOS and achievement motivation in both of the SUCCESSFUL (p=0.001, r=-0.57) and unSUCCESSFUL athlets (P=0.001, r=-0.52). Also it was found that in the case of achievement motivation (P=0.001, t=20.13) and FOS (P=0.001, t=15.02) there is a significance difference between the two groups. No significant difference was found between male and female ATHLETES for FOS (P=0.883, t=0.147). Generally, regular physical activity together with decreased fear of success, leads to higher achievement improvement.

The aim of this study was to recognize the environmental factors of our country on Olympic ATHLETES’ transition process from sport to social life. The research method was qualitative Grounded Theory (GT) supported by Strauss and Corbin (version 2014-1998) - MAXQDA 2020. Research population encompassed individuals with experience and expertise in Olympic sports which was the key feature of population samples including directors of Olympic organizations, coaches, and active and retired Olympic ATHLETES, and sports-science professors. The total number of samples until theoretical saturation came to 19 people. There were 94 initial codes and after studying similarities and determining 27 codes, 2 major categories of structure/ management and society/ family and 12 memos (memo-writing), the map of environmental factors affecting the Iranian Olympic ATHLETES’ transition was formed. The subcategory and the codes related to categories of structure and sports organizations management, importance of relevant and timely international communications to ATHLETES and Olympic federations, attention to coaches key role in this field, amending the education system for champions in particular owing to their specific living conditions and importance of IOC ATHLETES Commission role and objectives were recognized to be the most effective factors for ATHLETES’ SUCCESSFUL transition. Likewise are the codes related to athlete’s society and family, effect of absolute consequentialism in community level, effect of athlete’s living condition on choosing his sport and finally the effect on transition process, as well as economic and education level.

The aim of this article is to study, and recognize the facilitators and obstacles to transition of Olympic ATHLETES from sports career to social life. Given the previous researches conducted in this area, the high-performance ATHLETES often face challenges to have their sports career in combination with education or job together, as success at the highest level of sports performance, requires practicing in high-intensity trainings as well as participating in great number of competitions home and abroad. The International Olympic Committee has provided repetitive recommendations to support, and help determine ATHLETES’ conditions in this concern in every country. The research method in this study is qualitative, and applied grounded theory was used with Straus and Korbin (1998-2014) approach by MAX QD software 2020. The Statistical population of this research is composed of individuals with rich experience in Olympic sports of country, and knowledge relevant to research topic which is considered as the most important feature of the samples who included renowned directors, coaches, ATHLETES and experts in sports sciences. The total number of samples till theoretical saturation came to 19 people. The initial codes were 644 cases, and after studying the overlaps, and determining the components, 103 codes, and 15 components were formed in two blocks of obstacles and facilitators. According to the present research, the major facilitators for sports champions of our country are, the role of athlete himself, and his growth environment while the sports organizations’ structure of the country, management, and the society’ s expectation from sports champions, are amongst the major obstacles for them.

The aim of this study was to compare self-efficacy and its consequences in ATHLETES with SUCCESSFUL, unSUCCESSFUL and inexperienced experience in a sporting event. The statistical population of the study consisted of women police officers who regularly participated in sports activities and three groups of 25 people were compared with each other: G1. Experienced and succeeded in sporting a police skill competition sport event; G2, experienced this event, but did not succeed; The G3 did not experience the event and only had relatively complete information about the tournament. In terms of other characteristics, there was the highest similarity (age, education and degree) between these three groups. Data were collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha 0.83) and analyzed by SPSS software and Kruskal-Wallis test. The study showed that there is a significant difference between the three groups of inexperienced, SUCCESSFUL and unSUCCESSFUL ATHLETES in terms of self-efficacy and the two consequences of "self-expectation" and "goal management" and in all these variables, the average of experienced people SUCCESSFUL more than people with unSUCCESSFUL experience and this group is more than people without experience. Therefore, experiencing a sporting event, even if it is not SUCCESSFUL, can enhance self-efficacy and its consequences more than avoiding the experience.

According to numerous studies in sport psychology, it is proved that optimal athletic performance relates to many psychological factors and personality and psychological characteristics influence athletic development. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare mindfulness, emotional intelligence and mental toughness in SUCCESSFUL and unSUCCESSFUL karate ATHLETES in Iran men’ s karate super league. This research was casualcomparative and the population consisted of Iran men’ s karate super league in Kumite section in 2015. Primary data were collected by convenience sampling method from 70 ATHLETES of all participating teams-especially two high ranking teams and three low ranking teams-in karate super league. After the data of the number of competitions and their results for each athlete were collected, the optimal performance of karate ATHLETES was calculated and two SUCCESSFUL and unSUCCESSFUL karate ATHLETES groups were determined (each group 30 subjects). The form of content, the demographic questionnaire, Sport Mindfulness Scale, Schutte Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire and Mental Toughness Questionnaire (48 items) were used. The normal distribution of data in both groups were examined using the K-S and Shapiro-Wilk tests. The results of independent t test showed that the difference in mindfulness was not statistically significant between SUCCESSFUL and unSUCCESSFUL karate ATHLETES, but the emotional intelligence and mental toughness between SUCCESSFUL and unSUCCESSFUL ATHLETES were significantly different. Overall, it can be stated that a major part of these findings emphasize the role of the psychological characteristics in the sport performance and success of the two groups of elite karate ATHLETES who have the highest rank in Asia and world karate.