An Examination of the Football-Related Anxieties Experienced by Amputee Athletes and Their Coping Strategies

This study aims to examine the anxieties experienced by amputee athletes regarding amputee football and the strategies they use to overcome these anxieties. The population of this research consists of all amputee athletes interested in amputee football, while the sample is composed of eight athletes playing in a single amputee football club. The study was conducted using a qualitative research approach with a case study design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight athletes from an amputee football club. The interview questions were prepared based on a relevant literature review and the opinions of one academic expert in qualitative research, one academic expert in sports sciences, and one amputee football coach. The collected data were analyzed using the content analysis technique. In this process, the interview data were systematically examined, coded, and grouped into themes. Based on the participants’ statements, codes such as disability, stump, lack of information, pessimism, and shame were grouped under the themes of health, guidance, and emotional. The strategies used by football players to cope with anxieties—learning by doing, coach support, peer support, and family support—were categorized under the themes of experience and motivation. As a result, it was observed that amputee athletes were not fully aware of the difficulties they might encounter before taking the field, experienced shyness, and felt concerned about whether they could succeed. After starting to play football, it was determined that their worries regarding shame, injury, and potential harm to the stump continued.