Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2)

No. Research shows a non-linear relationship: moderate arousal often optimizes performance (Yerkes-Dodson law). Some high-performing athletes report high Cognitive Anxiety (>25) but reframe it as 'focused intensity' rather than worry. The key is whether anxiety impairs focus/execution. Athletes with high anxiety but intact self-confidence often perform well. Monitor individual performance patterns, not absolute scores.

Standard timing is 30 minutes to 2 hours before competition onset. This captures competitive state anxiety—the anxiety specific to the immediate competition. Administering 24 hours before or in training sessions will not reflect competition-day anxiety. Always document assessment time relative to competition start. For multi-event competitions (day-long tournament), reassess before each major event.

No. CSAI-2 measures state anxiety in the competitive context; elevated CSAI-2 does not indicate clinical anxiety disorder. Many athletes with clinical anxiety manage competitive anxiety well with coping skills; conversely, some athletes with no clinical anxiety experience high competitive anxiety. If an athlete reports excessive anxiety outside sport or persistent worry impacting daily life, refer to a mental health professional for formal evaluation.

This is a favorable profile: the athlete experiences physiological arousal (quickened heart rate, muscle tension) but trusts their ability to perform. This arousal is often channeled productively as energy and focus. Encourage the athlete to interpret symptoms as 'activated readiness' rather than fear. Brief somatic techniques (deep breathing, muscle relaxation) can modulate intensity if needed, but aggressive anxiety reduction may blunt useful arousal.

Not recommended. Anxiety profiles vary significantly across sports: gymnasts may have higher anxiety than tennis players; team sport athletes may show different patterns than individual sport athletes. Always use sport-specific norms when available, or establish within-athlete baselines across multiple competitions in the same sport. Generic norms risk over- or under-interpreting scores.

No. Optimal anxiety is not zero. Most athletes perform best with some physiological arousal and mental focus; trying to eliminate all anxiety may dull responsiveness. Work toward the athlete's individually optimal arousal level (identified through performance tracking across multiple competitions) and help them channel that arousal productively through cognitive reappraisal and attentional focus.