Understanding mental toughness in Australian soccer: Perceptions of players, parents, and coaches

We explored mental toughness in soccer using a triangulation of data capture involving players (n = 6), coaches (n = 4), and parents (n = 5). Semi-structured interviews, based on a personal construct psychology (Kelly, 1955/1991) framework, were conducted to elicit participants' perspectives on...

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Main Authors: Coulter, T., Mallett, C., Gucciardi, Daniel
Format: Journal Article
Published: Routledge 2010
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10984
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author Coulter, T.
Mallett, C.
Gucciardi, Daniel
author_facet Coulter, T.
Mallett, C.
Gucciardi, Daniel
author_sort Coulter, T.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description We explored mental toughness in soccer using a triangulation of data capture involving players (n = 6), coaches (n = 4), and parents (n = 5). Semi-structured interviews, based on a personal construct psychology (Kelly, 1955/1991) framework, were conducted to elicit participants' perspectives on the key characteristics and their contrasts, situations demanding mental toughness, and the behaviours displayed and cognitions employed by mentally tough soccer players. The results from the research provided further evidence that mental toughness is conceptually distinct from other psychological constructs such as hardiness. The findings also supported Gucciardi, Gordon, and Dimmock's (2009) process model of mental toughness. A winning mentality and desire was identified as a key attribute of mentally tough soccer players in addition to other previously reported qualities such as self-belief, physical toughness, work ethic/motivation, and resilience. Key cognitions reported by mentally tough soccer players enabled them to remain focused and competitive during training and matches and highlighted the adoption of several forms of self-talk in dealing with challenging situations. Minor revisions to Gucciardi and colleagues' definition of mental toughness are proposed. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-109842017-09-13T14:53:52Z Understanding mental toughness in Australian soccer: Perceptions of players, parents, and coaches Coulter, T. Mallett, C. Gucciardi, Daniel We explored mental toughness in soccer using a triangulation of data capture involving players (n = 6), coaches (n = 4), and parents (n = 5). Semi-structured interviews, based on a personal construct psychology (Kelly, 1955/1991) framework, were conducted to elicit participants' perspectives on the key characteristics and their contrasts, situations demanding mental toughness, and the behaviours displayed and cognitions employed by mentally tough soccer players. The results from the research provided further evidence that mental toughness is conceptually distinct from other psychological constructs such as hardiness. The findings also supported Gucciardi, Gordon, and Dimmock's (2009) process model of mental toughness. A winning mentality and desire was identified as a key attribute of mentally tough soccer players in addition to other previously reported qualities such as self-belief, physical toughness, work ethic/motivation, and resilience. Key cognitions reported by mentally tough soccer players enabled them to remain focused and competitive during training and matches and highlighted the adoption of several forms of self-talk in dealing with challenging situations. Minor revisions to Gucciardi and colleagues' definition of mental toughness are proposed. © 2010 Taylor & Francis. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10984 10.1080/02640411003734085 Routledge restricted
spellingShingle Coulter, T.
Mallett, C.
Gucciardi, Daniel
Understanding mental toughness in Australian soccer: Perceptions of players, parents, and coaches
title Understanding mental toughness in Australian soccer: Perceptions of players, parents, and coaches
title_full Understanding mental toughness in Australian soccer: Perceptions of players, parents, and coaches
title_fullStr Understanding mental toughness in Australian soccer: Perceptions of players, parents, and coaches
title_full_unstemmed Understanding mental toughness in Australian soccer: Perceptions of players, parents, and coaches
title_short Understanding mental toughness in Australian soccer: Perceptions of players, parents, and coaches
title_sort understanding mental toughness in australian soccer: perceptions of players, parents, and coaches
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10984