Acceptance and Commitment Training for Ice Hockey Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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.

Effect of mindfulness-based programmes on elite athlete mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…[20] MBPs are associated with improvements in athletic performance making mindfulness-based approaches popular in contemporary sports psychology. [21][22][23] Careful adaptation of these programmes is required when targeting specific new groups and new contexts, such as elite athletes, to maximise acceptability, effectiveness, ease of implementation, and scalability. [24] The adaptation of MBPs to elite sport settings must take into account the impact at the level of the individual, as well as at the micro (coaches/teammates), meso (individual sport), and macro (wider sporting environment) levels.…”

“…MBSR and MBCT typically consist of eight sessions per week, each lasting 2.0–2.5 hours, and are delivered in group settings by teachers who have successfully completed mindfulness-based teacher training 20. MBPs are associated with improvements in athletic performance, making mindfulness-based approaches popular in contemporary sports psychology 21–23. Careful adaptation of these programmes is required when targeting specific new groups and new contexts, such as elite athletes, to maximise acceptability, effectiveness, ease of implementation and scalability 24.…”

Self-Regulation in High-Level Ice Hockey Players: An Application of the MuSt Theory

“…However, though these approaches do not seek to change the content of athletes’ experiences [ 19 ], self-regulation involves deliberate behaviors aimed to down-regulate dysfunctional experiences, or up-regulate or maintain functional experiences [ 9 ]. Some of the strategies that athletes can use to regulate their emotions include relaxation (e.g., focus on breathing), imagery [ 20 ], music [ 21 , 22 ], or mindfulness–acceptance-based approaches [ 23 ]. Based on these self-regulation strategies the athletes often use spontaneously, during the intervention, we combined somatic techniques (i.e., paced breathing and relaxation) and mental imagery of challenging competitive situations to help players experience and mentally strengthen the optimal conditions for performance.…”

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-acceptance-commitment based approach for Rumination, Cognitive Flexibility and Sports Performance of Elite Players of Beach Soccer: A Randomized Controlled Trial with 2-months Follow-up

“…Achieving the psychological ability causes one to accept and face disturbing experiences instead of escaping negative thoughts and emotions and trying to control them. Improving cognitive flexibility leads to functional differences acceptance, reduces cognitive tendencies, and prevents the stimulation of ironic mental processes [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Indeed, the MAC approach uses acceptance and commitment therapy and adds a mindfulness component to this model that offers a different perspective that challenges traditional interventions commonly used by psychologists [ 1 , 21 ]. Attention to the present moment is the core of mindfulness and means the ability to change attention to the present, and is defined in a flexible and non-judgmental way in the face of internal and external stimuli by impartial observation [ 7 , 21 ]. Acceptance is defined as the ability to actively and consciously accept any private event (embrace) without attempting to avoid it or change its intensity or form [ 22 ].…”