The effects of a brief mindfulness intervention on basketball free-throw shooting performance under pressure

Abstract

Brief mindfulness training can improve cognitive performance under pressure; however, no studies have examined the effects of mindfulness on athletic performance under pressure. Participants in the current study were 32 young-adult, male basketball players who shot free-throws in a low-pressure phase, then were pair-matched and randomly assigned to mindfulness (n = 16) or control (n = 16) conditions. Participants listened to a 15 min mindfulness or history recording before pressure was induced. Then, free-throws made and shot quality was recorded for 20 free-throws. A mixed ANOVA revealed that during the high-pressure phase, the mindfulness groups’ shooting average (M = 70.7%) was not statistically different from the control’s (M = 61.6%), nor was shot quality rating different between the mindfulness group (M = 73.44) and controls (M = 67.38). A chi-square indicated no statistically significant relationship between group assignment and number of free-throws made on the first attempt under pressure (mindfulness = 12, control = 7), though there was a medium effect size (χ² = 3.24, p = .07, φ = .32). During the pressure phase, mindfulness participants reported lower cognitive anxiety with a medium effect size (p = .048, d = .73) and lower somatic anxiety, with a large effect size, (p = .014, d = .94) than controls. Although the intervention did not have a statistically significant effect on performance, findings are discussed in terms of practical significance. Additionally, the treatment group’s lower anxiety indicates that brief mindfulness training influences athletes’ mental states under pressure.

Lay Summary: A brief mindfulness training did not statistically improve free-throw percentage under pressure compared to controls; however, there were medium-sized effects in group differences in performance on the first free-throw under pressure. Mindfulness participants also reported lower anxiety than controls, suggesting that a brief mindfulness training influences mental states prior to athletic performance.

Implications for Practice

• A 15 min mindfulness intervention appears to have some effects on participants’ first basketball free-throw shot and state anxiety when performing under pressure, though more research is needed before a clear recommendation can be made about the intervention.