Emotional Intelligence Level of Pencak Silat Junior High School Students: Analysis and Implications to Young Athletes

Abstract

This study aims to determine the level of emotional intelligence of pencak silat athletes at MTs 3 Masaran and analyze its implications for the development of young athletes. Emotional intelligence is an important aspect in the world of sports, especially pencak silat, because it can affect athletes' performance, mental endurance, and social skills during training and matches. The research method used is descriptive quantitative with a survey approach. The sample consisted of 17 pencak silat athletes aged 12-15 years. The instrument used is an emotional intelligence questionnaire which includes five main factors: self-awareness, emotion management, motivation, empathy, and social skills. The results showed that the majority of athletes were in the “sufficient” emotional intelligence category (70.59%), followed by ‘good’ (23.53%), and “less” (5.88%). Motivational factors and social skills are two areas that need attention for further improvement. These results indicate the need for more intensive psychological coaching strategies to support athletes' overall emotional development. This study contributes to the development of psychological-based training programs at the school level.