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NCT Number: NCT07448012

Brief Structured Team Reflection Embedded in Elite Underwater Rugby Training

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Sports Cohesion, Social Psychosocial

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Tecnológico de Antioquia

Guarne, Antioquia, 054080, Colombia

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

SAMUEL JOSE GAVIRIA ALZATE, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+573192772912

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male elite underwater rugby athletes aged 18 years or older.
  • Officially rostered in the squad and training regularly (minimum 2 sessions per week).
  • Able to complete Spanish-language questionnaires.
  • Willing to participate and provide written informed consent.
  • Available to complete assessments at baseline (T0), week 3 (T1), and week 6 (T2).

Exclusion criteria

  • Unable to complete the questionnaires reliably (e.g., language/comprehension barriers).
  • Anticipated prolonged absence during the 6-week period that would prevent meaningful exposure to the intervention and/or completion of follow-up assessments.
  • Declines participation or does not provide informed consent.

Treatment and study plan

Usual elite underwater rugby training

Behavioral

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Team Cohesion (GEQ-12 short form)

    Time frame: Baseline (T0, pre-intervention; up to 5 minutes), Week 3 (T1; up to 5 minutes), and Week 6 (T2, post-intervention; up to 5 minutes)

    Team cohesion measured using the Spanish 12-item short form of the Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ). Items are rated on a 1-9 scale; negatively keyed items are reverse-scored. A composite cohesion score is computed as the mean of items, with higher scores indicating greater perceived cohesion.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Psychological Safety (Edmondson 7-item Team Psychological Safety scale)

    Time frame: Baseline (T0, pre-intervention; up to 5 minutes), Week 3 (T1; up to 5 minutes), and Week 6 (T2, post-intervention; up to 5 minutes)

    Psychological safety assessed with the 7-item Team Psychological Safety scale. Items are answered on a 1-7 Likert-type response format; negatively keyed items are reverse-scored. A composite psychological safety score is computed as the mean of the 7 items, with higher scores indicating greater perceived psychological safety within the team.

  2. Peer Trust (HERO horizontal trust, 4-item team-referent measure)

    Time frame: Baseline (T0, pre-intervention; up to 5 minutes), Week 3 (T1; up to 5 minutes), and Week 6 (T2, post-intervention; up to 5 minutes)

    Peer trust within the squad assessed using a 4-item team-referent horizontal trust measure drawn from the HERO organisational trust framework. Items are answered on a 0-6 response scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). A composite peer trust score is computed as the mean of the 4 items, with higher values indicating greater perceived horizontal (peer) trust among teammates.

  3. Team Identification (6-item team-referent identification scale)

    Time frame: Baseline (T0, pre-intervention; up to 5 minutes), Week 3 (T1; up to 5 minutes), and Week 6 (T2, post-intervention; up to 5 minutes)

    Team identification assessed using a 6-item team-referent identification measure adapted from Mael & Ashforth. Items are answered on a 1-7 Likert-type response format. A composite identification score is computed as the mean of the 6 items, with higher scores indicating stronger identification with the team.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

SAMUEL JOSE GAVIRIA ALZATE, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+573192772912

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Federal University of Vicosa

Other

Registry information

Official study title

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

Acronym: BSTR-UWR

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 4, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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