How does mindfulness training affect attention and penalty kick performance in university football player.
Jiaqi Wu, Lixin Ai
PLoS One 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0327134 (opens in new tab)
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Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial with two experiments Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 80 |
| Population | University football players |
| Intervention | Mindfulness training |
| Duration | 15-minute intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness. Meditation. Mental exercise Mental training Sports psychology Athletic performance Mental skills Psychological training Focus. Attention. Concentration. Visual attention Sustained focus Performance under pressure Pressure. Stress management High-stakes performance |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Brief mindfulness training increased fixation duration and fixation count during penalty kicks, with larger gains under pressure, but did not improve penalty kick scores. |
Abstract
Athletes often struggle to maintain attentional focus and performance consistency under pressure, particularly during high-stakes tasks like penalty kicks. This study examined the effects of brief mindfulness training on visual attention behaviors and penalty kick performance among university football players under non-pressure and pressure conditions. The study comprises two experiments: Experiment 1 was conducted in non-pressure conditions, whereas Experiment 2 involved pressure condition. Each experiment involved 40 participants, who were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group underwent 15 minutes of brief mindfulness training, while the control group engaged in 15 minutes of quiet sitting. Eye-tracking technology was used to measure fixation count and fixation duration during the penalty kick tasks. In non-stress conditions, the mindfulness group showed a significant increase in fixation duration and fixation count, with no change in penalty kick performance. In pressure conditions, the mindfulness group again showed significant gains in fixation duration and fixation count, but penalty kick scores did not significantly improve. Comparisons across stress conditions revealed that fixation duration improvements were larger under pressure, suggesting mindfulness may enhance attentional stability when athletes are under stress. In conclusion, brief mindfulness training can enhance visual attention behaviors in university football players, especially under pressure, by promoting sustained focus on task-relevant visual targets.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Effects of an 8-week Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment intervention on competitive anxiety, mindfulness, and 200-m sprint performance in junior female sprinters: a quasi-experimental study Sport Sciences for Health September 1, 2026
- Do brief mindfulness-based interventions improve sport-related performance? A systematic review Frontiers in Public Health February 5, 2026
Cites 7
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- How long does a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program need to be? A review of class contact hours and effect sizes for psychological distress Journal of Clinical Psychology March 23, 2009
- Instantaneous effects of mindfulness meditation on tennis return performance in elite junior athletes completing an implicitly sequenced serve return task Frontiers in Sports and Active Living August 23, 2022
- Implementation of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and to improve psychological well-being among retired Iranian football players Psychology of Sport And Exercise March 1, 2020
- Effects of Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment (MAC) on Sport-Specific Dispositional Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, and Self-Rated Athletic Performance in a Multiple-Sport Population: an RCT Study Mindfulness February 13, 2019
and 2 more in the library