EFFECT OF COMPETITION ANXIETY ON ATHLETES SPORTS PERFORMANCE: IMPLICATION FOR COACH

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of competition anxiety upon sports performance of elite athletes who took part in the “31st National Games held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP), Pakistan. Methodology: One hundred and twenty-eight (N=128) males= 88, females= 40; Age 21.9 +/-1.5 years; Sports Experience, 8.9 +/-1.7 years) provided the required information on 15-items Sports Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT). The history of sports performance of athletes was obtained during breaks within competitive fixtures. Main Findings: The analyzed data revealed that competitive anxiety is responsible for 38% change in sports performance. Furthermore, the relationship is moderate negative identifying that an increase in competitive anxiety decreases the sports performance of athletes (r=-0.386, P=.002). Additionally, comparative analyses indicated that female athletes and athletes from individual sports showed higher levels of Competition Anxiety, while male athletes and athletes with team sport reported lower levels of Competition Anxiety (P <.005). Implications of the study: This gender impact is critical and significant showing decisive implications for the coaches and trainers. These findings were explored in light of the theoretical and practical implications of these findings for designing sport psychology programs in Pakistan for athletes from various contexts. Novelty: The findings indicate that competitive trait anxiety can harm the success, and indicate that certain PL athletes can benefit from therapies that seek to decrease anxiety before and during competition.