NCT07448012

Brief Structured Team Reflection Embedded in Elite Underwater Rugby Training

Brief Structured Team Reflection Embedded in Elite Underwater Rugby Training: a 12-week Longitudinal Evaluation of Cohesion, Psychological Safety, Peer Trust, and Team Identification

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 27 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Federal University of Vicosa · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study evaluates whether a brief, structured team reflection programme embedded within routine elite underwater rugby training is associated with longitudinal change in key psychosocial team over 6 weeks and assessed at baseline (T0), mid-intervention (week 3; T1) and post-intervention (week 6; T2). Outcomes include team cohesion, psychological safety, peer trust and team identification measured via validated questionnaires.

Detailed description

A standardised set of short reflection components is embedded into the squad's training microcycle over 6 weeks. Sessions occur twice weekly immediately post-training (before athletes 15 minutes. The protocol includes 16 sessions distributed across five components (internal-state check-in, specific recognition, structured micro-reflection on team functioning, collective identity reinforcement, and one controlled vulnerability session), all implemented under a strict "share-only" rule to preserve psychological safety (no interruptions, cross-talk, evaluation or rebuttal). Facilitation is shared between a staff member and a rotating athlete leader. Fidelity and dose are monitored via a brief session log (delivery, minutes, facilitator, attendance, prompt completion, adherence to share-only rule). Objective sport performance outcomes are not collected; training availability and injury/illness status are recorded descriptively to contextualise exposure.

Conditions

• Sports
• Psychosocial
• Cohesion, Social

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Usual elite underwater rugby training	Ongoing routine team training delivered during the 6-week study period according to the team's normal training plan (e.g., in-water technical/tactical practice and dry-land conditioning as typically scheduled). Training content is not modified for research purposes. Training attendance and any major deviations (e.g., cancellations, unusual loads) are recorded as part of routine monitoring.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-01
• Primary completion: 2026-05-15
• Completion: 2026-05-15
• First posted: 2026-03-04
• Last updated: 2026-03-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Colombia