Effect and Source of Stress on the Performance of Football Players: A Systematic Review

Fataneh Asadsangabi^*Diego Muriarte Solana

• UPM (Finland), Helsinki, Finland

The role of stress in athletic performance, particularly in football, has garnered significant attention, yet the impact on players outside the professional sphere remains underexplored. This review, which employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, investigates the effects and sources of stress on the performance of football players at various levels of competition. By analyzing the literature, the findings identify key stressors such as competitive pressure, physical injuries, performance expectations, and the challenge of balancing athletic commitments with personal responsibilities. The findings indicate that these stress factors significantly influence both mental resilience and physical performance, with performance anxiety and injury risks being particularly detrimental. The review also highlights that lower-level players, including amateur and semi-professional footballers, experience heightened stress due to limited access to professional support systems, often resulting in performance declines. This study underscores the importance of targeted interventions, such as mental skills training and stress management strategies, to mitigate the adverse effects of stress on performance. By providing a comprehensive overview of the current research, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how stress affects football players and offer actionable insights for coaches, sports psychologists, and players.