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Thriving under pressure: Three ways ACT can support sports professionals

For elite athletes, coaches and managers participating in high-stakes tournaments, the pressure to perform is immense. Not only are they representing their teams and countries, but competitors, teammates and passionate fans watch their every move. In this environment, it’s obviously crucial that athletes have all been taught the mental fortitude and psychological skills to thrive under such intense scrutiny.

This got us thinking about ACT and the different ways that acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) could make a significant difference. Psychological flexibility is imperative when navigating difficult thoughts, emotions, and situations with greater ease.

So here are three examples of how ACT could support athletes performing in high profile competitions:

  1. Dealing with performance anxiety

    The prospect of competing in front of packed stadiums and large audiences could trigger debilitating performance anxiety in even the most seasoned athletes. ACT teaches techniques to accept these anxious feelings, rather than attempting to suppress or avoid them. By making room for anxiety, athletes can channel that nervous energy into optimal performance.

  2. Present-moment awareness

    ACT emphasises the importance of being fully present and engaged in the current moment. This mindfulness-based skill could help them stay focused on the task at hand, rather than getting caught up in worries about the past or future, any negative press or things going on in their personal lives. By anchoring themselves in the here and now they could make clearer decisions and execute with greater precision.

  3. Identifying and living by core values

    A central component of ACT is clarifying core values – the things that are most important and meaningful. For athletes, connecting to their deepest motivations and purpose could provide a reliable compass, especially when the pressure is at its highest. By competing in alignment with their values, athletes would be more likely to experience a profound sense of fulfilment, regardless of the outcome.

Integrating ACT principles into athletes mental training regimen could help give them a crucial edge. Through greater psychological flexibility, they’ll be better equipped to handle the unique demands of their sport and all the media furore, anticipation and expectation that goes along with it.

Ultimately, ACT isn’t just about managing difficult thoughts and emotions – it’s about thriving in the face of adversity and leaving it all on the field, these skills could make the difference between triumph and defeat.

Join us and explore this further

A brand-new workshop has been added to our schedule “Thriving in sport: Using ACT to optimise athletic performance”, led by Dr. Alison Maitland and Jenna Ashford, who both have extensive experience of using ACT when working with elite athletes. They will draw insights from their book “Drop the Struggle” to illustrate the practical application of the ACT model in sporting scenarios.

This online training will be interactive and provide opportunities to learn and experience ACT techniques tailored for the sporting domain. The workshop is aimed at practitioners, coaches, and anyone involved in supporting athletes to achieve greater success. It is suitable for those new to ACT as well as those with prior knowledge, although if ACT is a completely new concept to you, you might like to try our free Introduction to ACT, an hour-long workshop that covers the basics.

 

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