A Study on the Differences in Competitive State Anxiety of University Soccer Players by Position

This study examined differences in precompetition anxiety among collegiate soccer players by playing position. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with university players using the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT). Group differences by age, academic year, playing experience, and position were analyzed through t-tests and One-Way ANOVA with Scheffé post hoc tests. Open-ended responses were further analyzed using text mining to identify key anxiety-related terms. Results showed no significant differences in anxiety by age, academic year, or playing experience. However, goalkeepers reported significantly higher anxiety levels than other positions. Text-mining analysis revealed frequent words such as “pressure,” “mistake,” and “time,” reflecting the positional burden of goalkeepers. These findings indicate that precompetition anxiety varies by playing position and emphasize the importance of position-specific psychological interventions to improve athletes’ emotional stability and performance.