“Trigger the Mind, Target the Gold”: Development and Validation of an ACPT (Acceptance and Commitment Performance Training) for Elite Shooters

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been widely applied in clinical contexts; however, its systematic adaptation to elite sports, particularly precision-based disciplines such as shooting, remains underexplored. The present study aimed to develop and preliminarily validate an ACT-based psychological training program-the Acceptance and Commitment Performance Training for Shooters (ACPT-S)-by reframing ACT from a therapeutic intervention into a performance-oriented training framework. Using a multiphase formative evaluation design, a needs assessment was first conducted with 28 elite and collegiate shooters to identify sport-specific psychological demands. Based on these findings, a ten-session ACPT-S program was developed by integrating the six core ACT processes with shooter-specific routines, embodied exercises, and performance-relevant metaphors. The program was subsequently examined through two pilot studies: Phase 1 with four collegiate/corporate athletes and Phase 2 with 15 national-level shooters. Data were collected via session reflections, focus group interviews, and expert panel evaluations, and the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) analysis was used to assess conceptual clarity and implementation feasibility. The results indicated that ACPT-S was perceived as both feasible and contextually appropriate, with athletes reporting improvements in attentional focus, emotional acceptance, value-based motivation, and reduced anxiety. Qualitative analyses demonstrated strong engagement with ACT principles and their functional integration into shooting performance contexts, while all program components achieved CVR scores of ≥0.80, indicating a strong expert consensus. Program refinements were guided by feedback related to activity sequencing, metaphor resonance and personalization strategies. Overall, this study reconceptualizes ACT as a performance-enhancement framework rather than a purely clinical approach and introduces the ACPT-S as a novel, theory-driven, and scalable psychological training model for precision sports, providing a robust foundation for future longitudinal and comparative research.