The Relationship between Coaching Behavior and Sports Anxiety in College Athletes

Abstract

Aims: The research aims to determine the coaching behavior and sports competition anxiety among college athletes, and how these affect the athletes' perception. Study Design:  Quantitative, Descriptive-Correlational Design. Place and Duration of Study: University of Mindanao Digos College and Davao del                           Sur State College, Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines, between September 2024 and June 2025. Methodology: Data was collected from 100 college athletes who completed valid questionnaires in a cross-sectional study using quantitative descriptive-correlational design. Results: The results state that there is a weak, negative correlation between coaching behaviour and sport competition anxiety, which means that when coaching behaviour increases, sport competition anxiety increases as well, but slightly.  Overall results also determined that coaching behaviour noticeably correlated with sports competition anxiety in a way where negative coaching manners heightened the level of anxiety. In contrast, specific positive coaching styles increased physical and mental conditioning. Conclusion: The study highlights a significant link between coaching behaviors and athletes' anxiety levels in competition. It finds that negative coaching styles raise anxiety, whereas positive coaching methods improve both physical and mental conditioning. Coaches who demonstrate high organization, instruction, and emotional support are categorized as effective. College athletes exhibit moderate competition anxiety, indicating they manage anxiety levels well. Positive coaching helps build a healthy coach-athlete relationship that lowers somatic anxiety and enhances focus, while negative coaching can increase cognitive and physical anxiety, underscoring the importance of this relationship for psychological well-being and performance.