Resilience is a concept frequently used by clinical psychology to define that c ability of individuals to recover from adversity
However, there is no single way to build resilience and, for example, numerous studies suggest that the ability to manage stress is a factor that contributes to good sports performance.
In sport it is very common to encounter stressful elements related to the conditions of the competition or the organization. For this reason, the concept of resilience takes on a nuance closely related to the athlete’s quality of life.
Those who present a resilient profile experience greater knowledge in coping skills towards adversities. That mental strength contributes to injury recovery A good resilient profile, in addition to good technique, commitment and high social support, are variables that are associated with high performance.
Studies on resilience have traditionally focused on communities or families that have previously been subjected to stressful events. In the field of sport, there is still not as much research on resilience as there has been in the clinical area.
The resilient profile
It must be taken into account that most pressures can be self-imposed by the demands of the athlete himself. Galli and Vealey (2008) conducted a study with elite players through interviews about the adverse events they had to overcome in sport.
These included injuries, performance-related setbacks, illness and transition to another category. They established a model and highlighted the qualities that would belong to a resilient profile; positive attitude, maturity, competitiveness, commitment and strong determination
Various psychological variables related to optimism have been analyzed. These variables focus on the management of adversities and sports performance. To do this, they studied the athlete’s mood and mental strength, finding that optimistic people recover more quickly from stressful events. But it was also found that people who maintain an active physical practice, achieve higher levels of optimism regarding inactive people or sedentary (Kerr, Au and Lindner, 2005).
The case of athletes with disabilities
When talking about resilience and sport, we should not forget athletes with disabilities; these athletes have their own characteristics that drive them to face adversity.
However, they were found differences in resilience scores depending on the type of disability they present. Those athletes with cerebral palsy presented worse results than those with spinal injuries.
The role of the Sports Psychologist
All these studies highlight the importance of protective factors without neglecting prevention. The use of positive strategies, social support that allows constant feedback, the establishment of clear objectives and the evaluation of the strategies applied are essential to develop useful coping strategies and in the formation of a resilient profile.
This work is the responsibility of the Sports Psychologist, the coach and the athlete, being an integrative task on the part of everyone in which good planning must be prioritized. The knowledge of both the coaching staff and the Sports Psychologist will generate feelings of self-confidence and security on the athlete, reducing the possibility that potentially stressful situations affect their performance.
Understanding and training about the concept of resilience by Sports Science professionals will allow addressing the ability of athletes to positively adapt to adversity, thus achieving optimal sports performance.
Regarding intervention on the resilient profile, programs to improve the resilient profile can produce important changes in psychosocial variables associated with the injuries, illnesses and intrinsic motivation of the athlete.
Extending resilience to other facets of life
On the other hand, it should not be forgotten that many skills that have been acquired through sport are extrapolated to other areas of life (school, family, work).
Practicing sports from its earliest stages is a school of values ​​that promotes healthy habits. Therefore, the benefits of acquiring these strategies can be multiple, not only in sports performance if one intends to be an elite athlete but also in the education and personal development in children and adolescents
