Abstract
To represent the relationship between psychological skills and performance level in ball team sports within a youth talent group, 216 youth Tunisian male athletes representing four sports ball games (16 to 18 years) packed in the third version of the Ottawa Mental Skills Assessment Tool-3 with scales for Goal Setting, Self Confidence, Commitment, Stress Reactions, Fear Control, Activation, Relaxation, Imagery, Mental Practice, Focusing, Refocusing and Competition planning. A performance level (elite versus sub-elite) by type of sport multivariate analysis of covariance with age as a covariate showed had significant effects. Psychological skills distinguished between more and less successful talented athletes. In general, psychological profiles differed between team sports games sport and practice level gap
Key words: Ball games, mental skills, practice level, psychological profiles.
