Anxiety among university football players across positions

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the role of sports competition anxiety in predicting football playing ability among university women football players across different field positions. A total of 142 players aged 18-23 years, participating in the South Inter University Football Tournament held at Calicut University, Kerala (2023-2024), were selected. Players were categorized into offensive (n=60), offensive-defensive (n=22), and defensive (n=60) positions. Sports competition anxiety was assessed using the validated questionnaire by Ranies Martens and Dianne Gill. Data reliability was confirmed via test-retest method (r = 0.91). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe’s post hoc tests revealed significant differences in anxiety between offensive and defensive players, with offensive players exhibiting higher anxiety scores. The findings suggest that anxiety is a position-specific psychological variable influencing football performance. These results highlight the importance of integrating psychological training, particularly anxiety management, into football coaching to optimize player performance across field positions.