Abstract
Recent systematic reviews on the topic of mindfulness- and acceptance-based approaches in sport psychology conclude that there is a need for further trials using a more robust research methodology with direct performance as outcome. Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) is a contextual behavioral change method that focuses on facilitating psychological processes such as values, committed action, acceptance and mindfulness. In the present study designed as a randomized controlled trial, 34 junior elite ice hockey players were allocated into either an ACT group intervention or a wait list control group. Results showed significant effects on both objective performance outcomes (goals, assists, and taken shots) and blinded coach ratings of players’ performance, focus and commitment to their development in favor of the ACT group. Effects lasted at 3-month follow-up for the coach ratings, but not for the objective performance measures. All ACT trained players recommended ACT to other players and considered the training as important for their development as ice hockey players. The results add to the growing body of evidence on ACT interventions for athletes and its effect on performance. Future studies should investigate the maintenance of effects from the psychological training over time, using robust research methodology and investigate theoretical coherent potential mediating variables.
Highlights
Psychological skills are an integral part of being an effective athlete in competitive elite sports
The specific aim of this study is to investigate the effect of an ACT-program for icehockey players with the following research questions: (1) To what extent can an ACT based group-intervention increase ice hockey players’ objective performance as measured with goals, assists, shots and plus/minus? (2) To what extent can an ACT based program increase players focus, engagement and performance as measured by blinded coach ratings? (3) To what extent will the players consider the training meaningful and helpful to them as ice hockey players? (4) Will the players recommend the intervention to other ice hockey players? Based on these research questions the following hypotheses are stated: 1. Players in the ACT group will increase their objective performance to a greater extent than players in the control group
There were no significant differences at preassessment between the groups on the objective measures (0.071 < p < 0.495) but the ACT group were rated significantly lower by the blinded coaches compared to the wait-list group (0.006 < p < 0.008) on all three variables
Summary
Psychological skills are an integral part of being an effective athlete in competitive elite sports. Psychological skills training (PST) have been an area of interest for sport practitioners and researchers since the early 1970s. PST has mainly been based on cognitive techniques such as imagery, positive thinking and control of private experiences (Weinberg and Gould, 2019). During the last decade there has been an increased interest in mindfulness and acceptance-based training methods, often derived from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy adapted for athletes (Bühlmayer et al, 2017). Acceptance and mindfulness interventions apply a different focus for the psychological training than traditional PST programs. One central difference between the PST programs and the ACT based interventions is that acceptance and mindfulness interventions aim to train athletes to change the way athletes relate to private experiences
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