The use of self-compassion techniques in elite footballers: mistakes as opportunities to learn

Abstract

Mistakes made by players during a game are common in football, and when handled well they provide opportunities to learn and develop skills. However, when there is excessive self-criticism associated with the error, leading to dysfunctional cognitions about the self, there is the potential for a reduction in performance and wellbeing. Self-criticism can serve a number of functions but when it is excessive and undermines a player’s sense of adequacy and self-esteem it can lead to anxiety and depression. The current article explores the use of self-compassion techniques as methods for reducing the potential negative impacts of self-criticism. This paper is a narrative review of the literature, examining the theory and evidence base associated with the use of self-compassion approaches in sport, particularly football. The article presents protocols used with professional footballers to promote performance and wellbeing. Key learning aims (1) Elite athletes are prone to a range of mistakes and stressors, sport and non-sport related, that they are required to deal with in order to maintain their performance and wellbeing. (2) Self-compassion strategies are useful techniques for elite athletes to both help maintain wellbeing and prevent the occurrence of ‘mental health symptoms’. (3) Evidence suggests that self-compassion strategies are helpful to footballers, and beneficial protocols have been used in studies with professional footballers.

The bright side of sports: a systematic review on well-being, positive emotions and performance

“…This last concept is maintained transversally in several theoretical frameworks, such as Sports Commitment [58]. The most relevant concept, both quantitatively and qualitatively, supported by the fact that it is found in combination with different variables and situations, is not a basic psychological process, but a high-level cognitive construct: psychological well-being, in its eudaimonic aspect, first defined in the general population by Carol Ryff [59,60] and introduced at the beginning of this century in sport (e.g., Romero, Brustad & García-Mas [13], ; Romero, García-Mas & Brustad [61]). It is important to note that this concept understands psychological wellbeing as multifactorial, including autonomy, control of the environment in which the activity takes place, social relationships, etc.…”