<p>The study explores the factors influencing perceived athletic competence among Chinese university students, focusing on sports knowledge, training quality, psychological preparation, peer support, goal setting, and external motivation. A total of 1200 questionnaires were distributed, and 927 fully completed responses were collected from universities in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Wuhan. The study used a stratified sampling technique and structured questionnaire to ensure demographic representation. Results from Structural Equations Modeling (SEM) revealed significant relationships: sports information (β = 0.32, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), quality of training (β = 0.28, <i>p</i> = 0.001), psychological preparation (β = 0.34, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), peer support (β = 0.30, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), goal setting (Mediator; β = 0.35, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and external motivation (Moderator; β = 0.25, <i>p</i> = 0.007) all positively influenced perceived athletic competence. Moderation analysis indicated that external motivation significantly moderated the relationship between sports information (β = 0.15, <i>p</i> = 0.009) and quality of training (β = 0.12, <i>p</i> = 0.016) on perceived athletic competence, implying that the effect of these factors varied depending on levels of external motivation. The structural equation model adequately fit the data, with χ²/df &lt; 3, RMSEA &lt; 0.06, CFI and TLI &gt; 0.95, and SRMR &lt; 0.08, demonstrating the appropriateness of the measurement and structural models. These findings emphasize the need for personalized, contextualized sports development intervention and increase the understanding of the complex processes affecting athletic performance.</p>