Actividades recreativas para controlar ansiedad en las jugadoras de fútbol femenino. Universidad Católica del Ecuador.

Abstract

This article aims to evaluate the impact of a recreational activities program on competitive anxiety levels among players of the senior women's soccer team at the Catholic University of Ecuador. The research combined analytical methodology with document review and fieldwork, using a quantitative approach and a pre-experimental pretest-posttest design without a control group. The study was applied to the senior women's soccer team of the Catholic University of Ecuador, with a purposive sample of 12 players, selected for their representativeness. The Martens CSA-2 test revealed anxiety symptoms such as tension, fatigue, and irritability, especially given the pressure of debuting in the National Pro Women's League, coupled with a lack of professional experience. It was identified that, in Ecuador, women's soccer lacks processes that include recreation as a tool for personal growth and emotional management. After implementing recreational activities, a significant decrease in anxiety levels was observed. Statistical analysis using the chi-square test (calculated x² = 64.4773 versus table x² = 9.4877) allowed us to accept the alternative hypothesis, confirming the effectiveness of these activities. It is concluded that the implementation of planned recreational activities is an effective and necessary tool in high-performance women's soccer.

Keywords: recreational activities, anxiety, women's soccer