Experimental Induction of State Rumination in Youth Soccer Players on the Pitch: How Can We Evaluate an Effect of Rumination on Soccer-Specific Performance?

Abstract

Based on the goal progress theory, we examined whether cueing an unresolved goal triggers state rumination in athletes and consequently leads to performance deterioration. However, experimental approaches are usually conducted in the laboratory and only rarely in the field. Therefore, the aim of this proof-of-concept study was to verify whether the findings obtained in previous experimental studies could be transferred and confirmed in the field. For this purpose, the study was applied during regular training sessions. Fifty soccer players (f = 17, m = 33, age range: 14–18 years; M_age = 16.38) were divided into three different conditions—one experimental condition in which a goal-related rumination was induced and two control conditions in which a comparable goal-related induction or a neutral task was performed. Before and after the inductions during athletic practice, soccer players performed a sport-specific test to examine potential changes in athletes' performance as a function of condition and answered questions related to their state rumination. Different mixed ANOVAs were performed to examine (1) whether we could significantly elicit rumination in soccer players and (2) whether the application of the experimental procedure had an impact on performance in the subsequent sport-specific test. Two main findings were identified: First, the experimental procedure generally transfers well to the field. Second, however, the expected effects of state rumination on performance in the sport-specific test were not obtained. Reasons for the lack of clear effects and approaches for future research are discussed.