Abstract: Self-handicapping can be easily found in sport. Self-handicapping is a strategy of self-protection when individuals face an evaluation threat. Self-handicapping can be divided into two main categories; they are behavioral self-handicapping and claimed self-handicapping. Other-enhancement is a specific strategy of self-handicapping. Self-handicapping strategies can be used for the purposes of self-worth protection and impression management. Attribution, self-esteem, goal orientation, group cohesion, task quality, and gender are related with self-handicapping. Suggestions are provided for coaches to deal with self-handicapping in sport. Physical self-esteem is suggested to be a mediator between athlete’s global self-esteem and self-handicapping

Key words: self-handicapping, self-worth, impression management, athlete