Document Type : Research Article (s)
Authors
Department of Motor Behavior and Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Abstract
Background: Mindfulness-based training (MBT) can improve cognitive function, emotional regulation, and motor performance in sports settings. Given the importance of both technical skills and attentional abilities in soccer performance, this study aimed to investigate the impact of MBT on shooting, passing, and mindfulness in male novice players aged 10–14.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test–post-test design with a control group and was conducted from June to August 2024 at the indoor sports complex of Miandoab County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Forty novice male football players aged 10 to 14 years were recruited using a convenience sampling method and randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group through simple randomization using sealed, opaque envelopes. The intervention group received mindfulness-based training (MBT) combined with football skill training, whereas the control group received football skill training alone. The intervention period lasted four weeks, during which both groups trained three times per week. Each session for the intervention group consisted of 20 minutes of football skill practice followed by 20 minutes of MBT exercises, while participants in the control group completed 20 minutes of football skill practice only. Shooting skill, passing skill, and mindfulness, assessed using the Mindfulness Inventory for Sport (MIS), were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS version 26.
Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in mindfulness (Pre: 58.50 ± 15.22, Post: 65.75 ± 12.47, P < 0.001), football shooting accuracy (Pre: 47.95 ± 9.10, Post: 58.85 ± 13.51, P = 0.012), and passing accuracy (Pre: 7.00 ± 1.55, Post: 9.65 ± 3.01, P = 0.028) compared with the control group, which showed no significant changes. Between-group analysis controlling for baseline scores confirmed these differences (mindfulness P = 0.001, shooting P = 0.001, passing P = 0.001) with moderate to large effect sizes (partial η² = 0.30–0.87), highlighting the practical significance of mindfulness training on mental and technical performance in novice male players.
Conclusions: Mindfulness-based training combined with football skill drills significantly enhances shooting and passing performance, as well as mindfulness levels, in novice male football players aged 10 to 14. Given the critical developmental stage and the school-based context of youth sports, integrating MBT practices into school football training programs can effectively improve both technical skills and mental focus. Coaches and educators are encouraged to implement mindfulness interventions as a practical, accessible approach to support the holistic development of young athletes within school environments.
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