Acute effect of padel matches on the emotions of female amateur players

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to compare the impact of competition on emotions, taking into account both the outcome of the match and the side of the game in which the players find themselves. The sample comprised 28 female paddle players, with an average age of 39.93 years (±11.94), playing in the first and fourth regional paddle divisions.  We employed the Games and Emotion Scale (GES) survey to collect data. The study findings indicate that emotions linked with positive connotations ranked the highest, followed by uncertain emotions, while negative emotions garnered lower ratings. Additionally, it was found that fourth division players exhibited more pronounced levels of positive and ambiguous emotions compared to first division players. Playing on the home side of the court yielded positive nuanced emotions, indicating statistically significant differences, and eliciting higher ratings of ambiguous emotions, whilst reducing the impact of negative emotions. The study found notable variations in positive and ambiguous emotions among first division players when playing on their home side. In conclusion, the study revealed that winning matches evoked emotions with positive and ambiguous connotations, exhibiting significant variations, irrespective of the competitive level. This investigation affirms that paddle tennis competitions elicit diverse emotional responses in players. Of noteworthy significance is the occurrence of positive emotions at an intense level among players, triggered by winning and playing on their respective sides of the court.