Objective.

To develop a psychosocial characterization of a group of athletes from the department of Huila-Colombia, and to identify their perception of the work of sports psychologists.

Method.

A descriptive, transversal research was conducted, in which 817 athletes (72.3% men, average age 17.26 years, [SD = 4.28]) participated. The information was obtained through an ad hoc instrument of self-reporting, validated by experts, keeping the ethical considerations of the case.

Results.

Significant associations (p < 0.05) exist between the psychological and emotional factors (mainly anxiety and stress) and cognitive factors (attention, concentration, cohesion, motivation, self-confidence and cohesion), with sex, surgery, current job, sports club association, participation in competitions and accompaniment with a sports psychologist as variables; even when many of the respondents do not have access to professional sports psychologists, they highlight the importance of their actions to improve performance.

Conclusion.

The study allows us to have a general overview of the sociodemographic conditions of athletes, as well as their psychosocial needs to be strengthened; nevertheless, more rigorous exercises must be carried out that allow establishing, not only statistical relationships between the variables reported, but also effective interventions.

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