The Contribution of Mental Fatigue and Cognitive Flexibility to Decision Accuracy During Fast-Break Situations in Youth Handball Players

Ali Jabbar Murhij (Ministry of Education, Najaf Education Directorate)

Indonesian Journal of Education Methods Development
Vol. 21 No. 4 (2026): November

General Background: Competitive handball requires rapid information processing and appropriate tactical responses under constantly changing playing situations. Specific Background: During fast-break attacks, young players must interpret teammates’ and opponents’ positions and select an appropriate response within limited time, while psychological strain may reduce concentration and adaptive thinking may support tactical selection. Knowledge Gap: The combined contribution of these two cognitive and psychological variables to tactical choices among Iraqi youth players remains insufficiently examined. Aims: This study assesses their individual relationships with fast-break decision performance and constructs a regression model explaining tactical response quality. Results: A descriptive correlational predictive design included all 16 youth players from Al-Kufa Sports Club during the 2025–2026 season. Data were collected using a mental fatigue scale, the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, and an expert-rated fast-break decision test. Psychological strain was negatively correlated with tactical response scores (r = −0.712), whereas adaptive thinking was positively correlated with them (r = 0.689). The combined model was statistically significant, F = 16.41, p = 0.001, and explained 71.6% of the variance in performance scores. Regression coefficients confirmed negative contribution from strain (B = −0.63, p = 0.004) and positive contribution from adaptive thinking (B = 0.38, p = 0.011). Novelty: The study integrates two cognitive-psychological variables within one predictive model for high-tempo attacking situations. Implications: Youth preparation programs should incorporate psychological recovery strategies and executive-function exercises alongside technical and physical training. Highlights: Higher strain corresponded with poorer tactical choices at r = −0.712. Adaptive thinking corresponded with better responses at r = 0.689. The combined regression model explained 71.6% of performance variance. Keywords: Mental Fatigue, Cognitive Flexibility, Decision-Making Accuracy, Fast Attack.