Resilience is important in sport performers to withstand the pressure they experience. This study analyzed the relationship among resilient qualities and coping strategies in 235 Spanish athletes (126 males, 109 females; M age = 20.7 yr) who practiced different sports (79.1% team sports, 20.9% individual sports). They were evaluated at the beginning of the last competitive mesocycle and after an important competition. Coping strategies and level of resilient qualities were measured by the Coping Inventory for Competitive Sport and the Resilience Scale. There was no significant difference in resilience scores between evaluations performed during the last mesocycle or competition. A significant increase occurred in the scores for emotion-oriented and distraction-oriented coping during competition. Resilience scores correlated positively to task-oriented coping and negatively to disengagement- and distraction-oriented coping during both periods. Analysis of variance indicated that athletes with high individual resilient qualities reached higher scores in task-oriented coping, using to a lower extent disengagement- and distraction-oriented coping. Results obtained suggest that resilient characteristics may associate in athletes to the use of more potentially adaptative coping strategies.

The aim of this study was to monitor biological markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, mood states, and recovery‐stress states throughout an entire season in male handball players. Fourteen handball players (age 20.1±2.5 years) with a regular training and competitive background in handball (11.0±3.7 years) from the same club volunteered to participate. All participants completed 40 weeks of training. The training load was increased progressively throughout the season. Blood samples were collected and questionnaires were administered during preparatory, competitive, and recovery periods. Blood C‐reactive protein and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations increased during periods of high load, while the reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) decreased. These changes were accompanied by a significant increase in total leukocyte count. Positive correlations were found between C‐reactive protein, GSSG, GSH/GSSG ratio, and training load. No changes were observed in the Total Mood Disturbance score of the Profile of Mood States (POMS). However, scores on some Recovery‐Stress Questionnaire for Athletes subscales, such as Injury, Physical Recovery, and Being in Shape, correlated with training load. Findings indicate that during periods of high training load, handball players developed a low grade of inflammation and oxidative state. Results support the usefulness of monitoring psychological and biological markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and training load during season.