I have been teaching in the Health and Physical Education department at Clark College since April 2003. Because my schedule wasn’t busy enough, I took on additional teaching duties at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham last fall, teaching a similar curriculum. I made it through fall 2023 unscathed, and this term, took on two more classes: Beginning and Intermediate Weightlifting and Introduction to Sport Psychology.
Upon learning I would be teaching Sport Psych, and having not taught the class since the early 2000’s, I quickly ordered the 8th Edition of Foundations of Sport & Exercise Psychology and put my studies into high gear. I’ve heard the expression “chasing a bus with the bus is pulling away” before, and this is my present mode, even five weeks into the winter term.
Last week, we came upon the topic of Grit and Mental Toughness in Chapter 3: Personality & Sport. Mind you, the weeks leading up to this chapter skimmed the surface of the basics in psychology – Nature v Nurture, Hierarchy of Needs, Pavlov’s Dog(s) – some the good stuff Sport Psychology is rooted in.
Coincidentally, in November 2023, I had considered the topic of Grit for the December Newsletter, but time got the best of me, so I never put fingers to keyboard. Fast forward two months, and here I sit, with the dense book sitting my lap. Before digging into the content on Grit and Mental Toughness, I can’t help but wonder what the conventional recipe is for these essential mental factors in running.
Finally opening to page 50, I see a column dedicated to Grit, which leans on books and studies to explore the topic. Duckworth & Quinn (2009) state that grit, “involves maintaining interest and effort while strenuously working toward goals and challenges despite facing adversity, failure, and slow progress.” Cormier (2019) suggests grit is domain specific – the more someone enjoys a particular hobby or sport, the more emotional and physical investment they will practice.
Mental Toughness has similar characteristics – enhanced ability to focus, rebound from failure, ability to cope with pressure, persistence, and resilience. The text goes on to cite research which suggests, “creating a positive motivational practice environment and intense competitive practices, creating simulations (pressure), setting specific goals, providing instruction and supportive feedback, building confidence through rigorous physical preparation and conditioning, enhancing attentional control through self-statements, and making appropriate attributions for success and failure.”
A dose of this, a pinch of that, and voila – we have Grit!
It’s not that easy. Relationships must be formed, compassion must be present, meeting runners where they are at, truly believing in them, making them feel welcomed to the team, and having a place for play and fun.