1
Faculty of Sports Sciences, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, 17100, Türkiye
2
Faculty of Sports Sciences, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, 17100, Türkiye
Abstract
This study aims to examine the theoretical foundations of mental toughness within the context of sportive games. Employing a theoretical review and conceptual analysis approach, the study evaluates both the historical development of the mental toughness literature and the structural characteristics of sportive games. In this context, sportive games are conceptualized not merely as activities involving physical competition, but as unique experiential domains shaped by rules, uncertainty, voluntarily accepted obstacles, and ongoing processes of challenge and struggle. Mental toughness is interpreted not as an external performance variable but as an experiential phenomenon that emerges within the pressure, uncertainty, and challenges inherent in sportive games. Competitive pressure, the risk of failure, and psychological obstacles encountered during sportive games constitute fundamental components of athletes’ processes of experiencing and making sense of the game. Accordingly, mental toughness is considered one of the essential mechanisms that enable the continuation and meaningful engagement of sportive games. In conclusion, sportive games represent important experiential contexts in which mental toughness emerges and develops. This study suggests that mental toughness should be understood not merely as an individual trait but as a dynamic and context-sensitive phenomenon that gains meaning within the structural framework of sportive games.
Keywords
Mental toughness,sporting games,sport psychology,philosophy of sport,game theory
How to Cite
Suyunc, S., & Koc, H. (2026). Mental toughness in sporting games: A theoretical review. Journal of ROL Sport Sciences, 8, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.70736/jrolss.2299
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Hurmuz Koc
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