Moral and Emotional States of Pupil Athletes and Their Performance in Competitions

Sports participation, whether team-based or individual, fosters children’s self-esteem, confidence, social skills, academic motivation, and overall well-being, highlighting its vital role in psychological, social, and character development. This study examined the moral and emotional states of pupil-athletes in the Division of Sultan Kudarat and their relationship to athletic performance in various competitions. Using a descriptive correlational research design, data were collected from 105 pupil-athletes who participated in the Sultan Kudarat Athletic Association Meet, Cotabato Regional Athletic Association Meet, and the Palarong Pambansa. Results revealed that pupil-athletes demonstrated a strong moral orientation, with an overall mean of 4.28, indicating “strongly agree” responses on values such as fairness, respect, and discipline. Emotional intelligence was also rated highly, with self-awareness (M = 4.32), motivation (M = 4.47), empathy (M = 4.36), and social skills (M = 4.25) all described as “strongly agree,” while handling emotions was moderately rated (M = 3.82). Support from parents and coaches was evaluated positively (M = 3.97), particularly in fostering fair play (M = 4.57) and encouraging athletes during defeat (M = 4.42). In terms of performance, 93% of pupil-athletes reached the regional level, while 7% qualified for national competitions. They won 42 gold medals at the provincial level, one gold and three bronze at the regional level, and one silver medal nationally in 2011. In 2012, winnings increased to 74 golds provincially and three golds, two silvers, and one bronze at the regional level. However, correlation analysis revealed no significant relationship between moral state (r = –0.11) and athletic performance, nor between emotional state (r = –0.05) and performance. Findings suggest that while pupil-athletes exhibit high moral values and emotional intelligence, these attributes have a negligible direct impact on competitive success.