Pre-competitive anxiety and associated factors in young female soccer players in school sports

Abstract

Pre-competitive anxiety in young female soccer players refers to feelings of tension or worry that arise in these female athletes before a match or competition. This form of anxiety may present itself through cognitive, behavioral, and physiological responses, potentially exerting a detrimental effect on both athletic performance and overall well-being. Our current research aims to study the factors associated with pre-competitive anxiety in young female soccer players. A total of 122 female youth soccer players from various clubs completed the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (STAI) just before competitive matches. Other data related to the practice of this sport were collected from our study group. The results obtained from the STAI scale indicate that 35% of the participants in our study have scores reflecting high levels of pre-competitive anxiety. Family support, length of club experience, and psychological intervention by coaches were factors associated with lower levels of pre-competitive anxiety in young female soccer players. Psychological interventions can also help reduce pre-competitive anxiety in these young athletes. Coaches and parents need to consider these factors when working with young female soccer players. Training and competition environments should be inclusive and gender-sensitive, and female players should be encouraged to set realistic goals and work on techniques for managing competition anxiety.