A substantial number of sports experts concur that an athlete's level of maturity and mental fortitude, defined as psychological resilience, in confronting challenges during a competition, is a pivotal factor in determining their performance. The scientific study of behavior and mental processes in the context of sport is known as sport psychology, if psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes (Croix et al., 2024). Furthermore, the field of exercise psychology emphasizes enhancing performance through training regimens. In contrast, sports psychology focuses on refining performance quality and utilizes the period following a match or triumph as a metric (Devi et al., 2023).

Sports psychology is defined as a network of sports sciences that aims to enhance the effectiveness of athlete training, accelerate the learning process, and eliminate psychological barriers to achieving desired results (Shoxrux, 2023). Athletes may occasionally encounter a diminution in performance. Numerous factors can influence an athlete's performance, including excessive anxiety before competition. One psychological component that has been demonstrated to affect athletes in competitive scenarios is competition anxiety (Maulana & Khairani, 2017). Anxiety is frequently regarded as a typical reaction in a sports context to circumstances in which an athlete's capabilities are being assessed (Ford et al., 2017). The occurrence of sports tournaments has been demonstrated to elicit feelings of anxiety and other unpleasant emotions among athletes (Rossi et al., 2024).

The presence of unpleasant tension, intrusive thoughts, and associated physical symptoms is a hallmark of anxiety (Yang et al., 2024). Anxiety can be categorized into two distinct types: cognitive anxiety, characterized by fear of future events, and somatic anxiety, characterized by measurements of a person's physical condition (Tangkudung & Mylsidayu, 2017). Symptoms such as stiff movements, cold sweats, loss of concentration, and pessimism in an athlete may indicate excessive tension (Mylsidayu & Kurniawan, 2015). Consequently, anxiety can hinder an athlete's concentration, coordination, and self-confidence, potentially impeding them from achieving their full potential in competition (Nurhadi, Sembiring, & Dewi, 2023). Almost everyone has experienced anxiety; only the level and intensity are different.

Controlling anxiety and competitive aggression is essential for a volleyball player's performance in a fast-paced sport like volleyball, where quick thinking and teamwork are crucial for success, especially when considering the benefits of emotional regulation. Athletes who employ cognitive reframing, deep breathing, and self-talk techniques can attain practical success in high-stress situations because these athletes will have higher self-confidence, make fewer mistakes due to stress, and play with greater consistency (Vodicar, Kovac, & Tusak, 2012). This study aims to identify athletes with a strong passion for volleyball and maintain optimal physical fitness (Olivar et al., 2024). Achievement is a critical component of the training process, as it has been demonstrated to be a significant predictor of success (Khoirudin et al., 2023).

A substantial body of research has previously indicated a different degree of anxiety among volleyball athletes. Recent research indicates that volleyball athletes from Surabaya State University experienced anxiety in the absence of a sufficient number of matches. However, some athletes demonstrated high scores, primarily due to their composure during matches (Baghaskara et al., 2025). The findings of our investigation demonstrated that, although the initial assessment of anxiety at the September 2019 preliminary testing was deemed elevated, the subsequent assessment of anxiety revealed a significant decrease (Sopa, 2021). In contrast, volleyball players who reported sufficient skills in managing their competitive nervousness exhibited lower levels of anxiety (Šadrincevaitė & Griciūtė, 2023). Compared with both groups, Senior State and Youth National volleyball players exhibited a higher level of competition anxiety. Conversely, Youth National volleyball players demonstrated the lowest levels of anxiety (Vamsikrishna & Selvam, 2022).

Additionally, a significantly reduced level of depression was observed. Specifically, compared to men, women demonstrated elevated levels of state and trait anxiety (Vaccaro et al., 2021). However, the extant literature has yielded conflicting results, with some studies demonstrating low, moderate, or high levels of anxiety, depending on the athlete.

Although several international studies have investigated competitive anxiety in team sports, such as the findings of Kemarat et al. (2022) showing the relationship between personality characteristics and anxiety in team and individual athletes in PLOS ONE, as well as research by Varzaneh et al. (2011) comparing perceptions of competitive anxiety and the use of psychological strategies between elite and non-elite players in rugby union, studies specifically in volleyball are relatively limited. Additionally, findings from local studies such as Baghaskara et al. (2025) on Surabaya volleyball students reported that most athletes exhibited low anxiety (88.2%) before the match, but without distinguishing between pre-match and in-match anxiety phases. Given this gap, this study will investigate competitive anxiety levels separately before and during competition among volleyball athletes at the provincial level in Jakarta (Kejurprov). This group has not been systematically studied. This study addresses the lack of region-specific literature through a descriptive quantitative approach and a valid and reliable 35-item instrument (α = 0.954). It provides empirical data that is valuable for regional-level mental training interventions. Unlike previous studies conducted in Surabaya and at the national level, this study focuses on club athletes at the Special Capital Region of Jakarta provincial level, which has not been explored much.

This study aims to ascertain and describe the extent of anxiety experienced by volleyball players during official competitions, with a particular focus on the Provincial Championship (Kejurprov) among Special Capital Region of Jakarta teams. The present study is principally concerned with the psychological condition of athletes prior to and during competition, to acquire a more precise understanding of the distribution and severity of competitive anxiety experienced by athletes. The findings of this study are significant in terms of their contribution to the advancement of sports psychology, particularly in establishing the foundation for the development of psychological intervention strategies, such as emotion or mental management training. Consequently, the findings of this research are beneficial for those involved in sports, such as coaches and sports psychologists, as well as for developing more comprehensive athlete coaching policies.

Researchers collected data on the day of the competition, with 70 athletes in the pre-adolescent and adolescent categories completing the questionnaire. As illustrated in Figure 1, athletes in the pre-teen category comprise 10%, while athletes in the teen category account for 15%. The study results indicate that the proportion of athletes in the teen category is greater. Additionally, male athletes contribute 18% of the total, and female athletes contribute 7%. The results of the study indicate a preponderance of male athletes. As illustrated in Figure 2, the age range of athletes is distributed as follows: 41% are between the ages of 10 and 15, and 8% are between the ages of 16 and 20. The results of this study indicate that athletes in the 10-15 age category exhibit a higher percentage of the total. The data calculation results from the questionnaire comprised 35 questions filled out by 70 respondents. The average anxiety score given by respondents is presented in Table 3.

The mean score obtained from these calculations was 81.97. The researcher employed a two-category system to categorize the data: low and high. Athletes with anxiety scores below 81.97 were designated as having low anxiety, while those with scores above 81.97 were classified as having high anxiety. The objective of this study is to utilize SPSS Version 23 to calculate the level of anxiety experienced by athletes during and before competition. The results of this analysis will provide valuable insights into the emotional state of athletes under competitive pressure.

As indicated by the data in the Table 4 and the results obtained above, we can see a balanced distribution of anxiety levels among the athletes. Twenty-five athletes, representing 35.7% of the total sample, exhibited high levels of anxiety during the competition, while 35 athletes (64.3%) exhibited low anxiety levels. This balanced distribution of anxiety levels provides an objective view of the mental state of the athletes during the competition. In light of the aforementioned data, it can be deduced that, of the total 70 athletes in competition, 35 exhibited low anxiety levels, while 25 demonstrated high anxiety. The proportion of athletes exhibiting low anxiety levels exceeds that of those experiencing high anxiety, maintaining the balance of the data.

Preliminary analysis of the pre-match Table 5 and the results obtained above indicates that 31 athletes, representing 44.3% of the sample, experience high anxiety prior to competition. Also, 39 athletes, or 55.7% of the sample, said they had little nervousness before a competition. In light of the aforementioned data, it can be deduced that 39 of the 70 athletes set to compete are experiencing low anxiety, while 31 of them are experiencing high anxiety. The proportion of athletes exhibiting low anxiety levels exceeds that of those experiencing high anxiety.

As indicated by the anxiety results presented in Table 6, 27 athletes (36.6%) exhibited elevated anxiety levels, while 43 athletes (61.4%) demonstrated reduced anxiety symptoms. The data and percentages presented herein indicate that a greater proportion of athletes experienced low anxiety.

The study's results indicated that most volleyball athletes participating in the Special Capital Region of Jakarta Inter-Club Provincial Championship exhibited low anxiety levels both before the match (55.7%) and during the match (64.3%). These findings suggest that most athletes demonstrate high emotional control and mental readiness when confronted with competitive pressures.

The findings of this study are pertinent in demonstrating that the majority of students exhibit low anxiety levels (88.24%), with an average score of 36.941 (Baghaskara et al., 2025). This suggests that most students who play volleyball in the sports department at Universitas Negeri Surabaya experience minimal anxiety during matches. However, some achieve high scores, which can be evaluated particularly in terms of their level of calmness when facing matches.

These findings are also relevant to a study conducted on 20 extracurricular volleyball athletes at Balung High School, which identified three main phases of anxiety: before the match, during the match, and after the match. The highest level of anxiety was recorded at 39% following the match, the lowest was noted at 26% during the match, and the lowest before the match was recorded at 18% (Muzakhi et al., 2025). This study posits that athletes require comprehensive mental training that extends beyond the confines of the classroom setting, given the multidimensional and persistent nature of their anxiety.

In a comparative study on team versus individual sports, anxiety levels before the match were categorized as moderate in both groups (team sports: 42%; individual sports: 43%) (Gusriansyah, Sulastio, & Wedi, 2025). These results resonate with findings by Woodman and Hardy (2003), who noted that athletes in both sport types experience performance-related anxiety, albeit influenced by different situational triggers and coping styles.

A subsequent study, which compared anxiety levels between men and women, demonstrated that women exhibited significantly lower trait anxiety (p = 0.038) and depression (p = 0.018) levels compared to men (Vaccaro et al., 2021). The primary effect of gender was found to be significant. Specifically, women exhibited elevated levels of state and trait anxiety relative to men. A discrepancy was identified in the trait anxiety and depression scores of the two groups; however, no such discrepancy was observed in the state anxiety scores. Furthermore, anxiety levels did not significantly influence the values of amateur and volleyball players in the categories under study. Significant gender differences were identified in both state and trait anxiety. Specifically, the mean score for female participants exceeded that of their male counterparts.

Despite a general trend of low anxiety, approximately 36.6% of the athletes in this study still experienced high anxiety. This subgroup may be affected by insufficient psychological training, external pressures (e.g., from coaches or family), or limited exposure to high-stakes competition. According to Mellalieu, Hanton, and Fletcher (2009), inadequate coping mechanisms and a lack of competitive experience can exacerbate anxiety and negatively impact performance. These findings emphasize integrating structured psychological skills training—such as relaxation techniques, imagery, and cognitive restructuring—into athletic programs (Vealey & Greenleaf, 2021).

The psychological condition of athletes is critical, especially in mental preparation before a match. The results show that the majority of athletes can manage their anxiety during official competitions, although there are a large number of people who are very anxious before the games. In addition, the study found that several variables, including competition experience, team support, and an individual's ability to manage the pressures of competition, can affect different levels of anxiety in athletes. Therefore, these findings can serve as a basis for coaches, clubs, and policymakers to design more organized mental coaching programs to improve athletes ' mental readiness for matches.

The author expresses his deepest appreciation to all parties who have helped in completing this research.

All data supporting the findings of this study are included in the article and its supplementary materials. Additional datasets are available from the corresponding author upon a reasonable request.

This research did not receive external funding.

The author states that this study was carried out independently, with full integrity, and without any conflicts of interest involving any organization, institution, or individual. There were no financial, professional, or personal affiliations that could have influenced the design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of the research.