EFFECT OF HOME ADVANTAGE ON STRESS HORMONE AND PRE- COMPETITIVE STATE ANXIETY LEVEL OF VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

Abstract

Playing venue is a prominent influential tool that affects players’ psychological and physiological states before the competition. The main objective of the present analysis was to check the cortisol concentration and competitive state anxiety level before the match on home and away playing venue. A total of ninety-six players age 18-24 years from eight different public and private universities were monitored during eight competitive matches playing against each other on a home and opponent’s home ground. The decline in cortisol level, before playing a match, as evidenced at home ground, however, a 16% elevation was recorded in cortisol level at the away playing venue, even before playing the match. Before-match cortisol concentration and the percent changes in this hormone were related to somatic and cognitive anxiety. In conclusion, the playing venue extensively influenced cortisol and anxiety levels before the commencement of volleyball matches at away ground. This hormonal response was related to players' psychological state, which might contribute to players’ behavior and outcomes of matches.