Effects of a Mindfulness Intervention on Volleyball-Specific Performance: A Randomized Trial

Area of Science:

• Sport Psychology
• Motor Learning
• Mindfulness Interventions

Background:

• Mindfulness-based interventions are increasingly used in sport psychology.
• They aim to improve attentional control, emotion regulation, and performance consistency.
• Elite athletes face significant competitive pressure impacting performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of an eight-week mindfulness-based intervention on volleyball-specific technical performance.
• To assess changes in skill execution among elite female volleyball players.
• To determine if mindfulness training enhances performance consistency under pressure.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-eight elite female volleyball players (ages 17-19) were randomly assigned to an experimental (mindfulness intervention) or control group.
• The experimental group engaged in daily 30-35 minute mindfulness sessions before training for eight weeks.
• Standardized skill tests (pass, serve, spike, block accuracy) were administered pre- and post-intervention, with controlled training loads.

Main Results:

• The experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in overall technical performance compared to the control group.
• Substantial gains in serve and spike accuracy were observed in the mindfulness group.
• No significant adverse effects or performance decrements were noted.

Conclusions:

• Mindfulness-based training is an effective supplementary method for enhancing technical skills in elite volleyball.
• It supports improved skill execution and performance consistency in competitive settings.
• Mindfulness interventions can be integrated into athlete preparation programs.