The relationship between state anxiety and performance in beach volleyball players

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between intensity and direction of competitive state anxiety, self-confidence and objective measures of athletic performance in volleyball players. Fifty-four volleyball players responded to a modified version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) 1 h before competition. The questionnaire included the existing CSAI-2 (intensity) sub-scale as well as a direction sub-scale. Our findings supported the hypothesis that self-confidence and direction sub-scales of the pre-competitive cognitive and somatic anxiety are positively related to athletic performance in male beach volleyball players. The findings also revealed significant differences in anxiety direction and intensity in two groups of players with different competitive (international and national) levels. High level volleyball players interpreted their anxiety as more facilitative to performance.