ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the scientific and theoretical underpinnings of committed action within Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and discusses how sport psychology practitioners approach commitment with elite athletes. It considers both situations in which elite athletes tend to do committed action well and those where they tend to struggle. The chapter illustrates concepts and applications with anecdotes and case examples. R. Harris suggested that athletes who are high functioning could start their work with values and committed action without engaging in work on the other core processes of the hexaflex. The primary pitfall to be wary of with committed action in elite athletes is the likelihood of values and commitments becoming rigid rules rather than flexible guideposts. Helping athletes focus on the process, combined with consistent defusion work, allows athletes to linger more in the present and become less rigid with their goals, beliefs, and behaviors.
