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@article{191533,
        author = {Chandrakala N},
        title = {Assessment of Sport Competition Anxiety Using SCAT in College-Level Female Netball Players},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {6850-6853},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=191533},
        abstract = {Background: Sport competition anxiety significantly impacts performance in team-based sports, particularly among emerging elite athletes. This study assessed competitive anxiety levels in college-level female netball players using the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 145 college-level female netball players (Mean age = 20.34 ± 1.87 years) from three competitive tiers: elite club (n=48), academy level (n=52), and community-based clubs (n=45). Participants completed the 15-item SCAT questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were employed to analyze anxiety differences across competitive levels and playing positions (Guards, Centers, Shooters). Results: Overall mean SCAT score was 21.47 ± 4.62 (range: 10-30), indicating moderate competitive anxiety. Elite-level players demonstrated significantly lower anxiety (Mean = 19.23 ± 3.54) compared to academy-level (Mean = 21.89 ± 4.31, p = 0.008) and community-level players (Mean = 23.45 ± 5.12, p < 0.001). Position-specific analysis revealed no significant anxiety differences between Guards (M = 21.65 ± 4.78), Centers (M = 21.23 ± 4.35), and Shooters (M = 21.42 ± 4.89; F = 0.156, p = 0.856). Female netball players exhibited higher mean anxiety (M = 21.47) compared to published normative data for male athletes (M = 19.8), consistent with gender-specific anxiety patterns in team sports [1][2]. Conclusions: College-level female netball players demonstrate moderate competitive anxiety, with significant variation across competitive levels. These findings suggest that competitive experience and training at higher performance tiers are associated with improved anxiety management. Position did not significantly influence anxiety expression, indicating that anxiety reduction interventions should be competition-level rather than position-specific.},
        keywords = {Sport anxiety, SCAT, netball, female athletes, college sports, competitive levels},
        month = {January},
        }