Competitive anxiety in university futsal athletes

patterns of dimensions before and after games

Abstract

Sport practice in competitive settings imposes significant emotional demands on athletes, with competitive anxiety being a key factor influencing performance, particularly in team sports such as futsal. This study aimed to analyze the behavior of the dimensions of competitive anxiety (cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence) across four matches of a university futsal competition, comparing pre- and post-match moments in athletes with different levels of sports experience. The sample consisted of 11 male athletes (median age = 23 years; range 19–33), participants in a state university championship. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised (CSAI-2R), and the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) were administered across four matches, at both pre- and post-competition moments. The findings showed that somatic anxiety remained stable throughout the matches, whereas cognitive anxiety tended to increase in decisive moments. In contrast, self-confidence remained high and consistent, suggesting a protective role in sports performance. University futsal athletes appear to maintain physiological stability and high levels of self-confidence during competition, but exhibit greater cognitive vulnerability in decisive matches. These findings highlight the importance of implementing specific psychological strategies aimed at anxiety management and regulation of competitive pressure, in order to optimize performance and reduce the risk of performance decline in critical situations.