Implementation and impact of the Mindfulness Meditation Training for Sport (MMTS) 2.0 protocol with a division III women's college basketball team and coaching staff
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Citation
Abstract
This study examined the Mindfulness Meditation for Sport 2.0 protocol (MMTS
2.0) (Baltzell & Summers, 2018), a six-week integrated mindfulness and self-compassion
training, with a Division III women’s basketball team and coaching staff. The study
design replicated a mixed method approach used in previous MMTS 2.0 studies, using an
identical battery of eight validated quantitative instruments (with the student athletes
only), as well as a qualitative interview guide (slightly modified for this study for sport-specificity). Both student athletes and coaches were interviewed post-training in order to
explore their self-reported perceptions of the impact and the benefits and challenges of
the MMTS 2.0 training. The MMTS 2.0 protocol was delivered by the researcher to
fifteen total participants (n=15), ten student athletes and five coaches, over six weekly
one-hour sessions. In addition to the weekly group sessions, as part of the MMTS 2.0
training, home practice was encouraged using audio-recorded meditations. The primary
objective of the MMTS 2.0 training was to increase the student athletes’ and coaches’
poise as defined by ability to cope with the experience of negative thoughts and emotions
that may be present due to the pressures of competition and training. In addition, the
objectives of increased focus and psychological flexibility were investigated. The
researcher hypothesized that the MMTS 2.0 intervention would show increases in
measures of mindfulness and self-compassion, and other indices of sport-related
performance variables (e.g., flow, grit, psychological inflexibility, etc.), as well as
participant well-being. Reductions in sport-related anxiety and psychological inflexibility
were hypothesized. The quantitative findings revealed no statistically significant results
regarding the eight quantitative measures as well as no demonstrated moderate effect
sizes. The qualitative results indicated strong support for the training. Both groups,
student athletes and coaches, described a range of perceived impacts, aligning with the
training’s core objectives of increased poise, focus and psychological flexibility. The
emerging themes in the interview data revealed evidence for overall enhancements in
awareness, focus, stress management, and strong support for enhanced team climate. The
discussion synthesizes the findings and offers suggestions for future implementation and
coach involvement.