The effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on cognitive skills in young soccer players
Exercise and Quality of Life January 3, 2025 Seyed Mohammad Zadkhosh, Hassan Gharayagh Zandi, Majid Ghorbannejad
This study tested whether Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) training improves mental skills in young soccer players. Thirty players aged 17–20 were split into an experimental group of 15 who attended eight weekly two-hour MBCT sessions and a control group of 15 who received no intervention. Using the Ottawa Mental Skills Assessment Tool (OMSAT-3) before and after, the authors report significant improvements in the experimental group compared to the control group on all measured subscales: focusing, refocusing, imagery, mental practice, and competition planning. They conclude that MBCT is appropriate for improving cognitive skills in soccer players.