Resilience in elite level Resilience in elite level sportsport

Professor Jim McKennaProfessor Jim McKennaCarnegie Faculty for Sport and Education, Carnegie Faculty for Sport and Education,

Leeds Metropolitan UniversityLeeds Metropolitan University

j.mckenna@leedsmet.ac.ukj.mckenna@leedsmet.ac.uk

What we know about motivationWhat we know about motivation[motive-action x energy][motive-action x energy]

People motivate themselvesPeople motivate themselves

Our energy flows from our strengths and valuesOur energy flows from our strengths and values

Talking helps others to tap into our energiesTalking helps others to tap into our energies

[Some] Talking blocks or drains others’ energy[Some] Talking blocks or drains others’ energy

Organisations succeed or fail, one conversation at a timeOrganisations succeed or fail, one conversation at a time

People do NOT respond to reality, onlyPeople do NOT respond to reality, onlyto their PERCEPTION of realityto their PERCEPTION of reality

ResilienceResilience Links to ‘Broaden and Build’ theory of positive emotions (Frederickson 1998, 2001)Links to ‘Broaden and Build’ theory of positive emotions (Frederickson 1998, 2001)

The label given to ‘bounce-back-ability’ [coping] The label given to ‘bounce-back-ability’ [coping] andand personal growth personal growth (‘bounce-(‘bounce-beyondbeyond-ability’)-ability’)

‘…‘…The process or capacity for successful adaptation in The process or capacity for successful adaptation in conditions normally associated with psychological conditions normally associated with psychological

dysfunction and low competence…’ dysfunction and low competence…’ (Fonagy et al., 1994)(Fonagy et al., 1994)

Growth perspective: Links to notions of capability and competenceGrowth perspective: Links to notions of capability and competence

Transfer of adaptationsTransfer of adaptations

Dr. SteveDr. SteveCobleyCobley

JohnJohnAllanAllan

NickNickWattieWattie

ArabellaAshfield

JonJonFinnFinn

The aim is NOT to make the caterpillar The aim is NOT to make the caterpillar a better caterpillar….a better caterpillar….

… … but to turn it into a beautiful butterflybut to turn it into a beautiful butterfly

PYD model of changePYD model of change

Hardship happens (grit): Hardship happens (grit): Resilience (the pearl) might resultResilience (the pearl) might result

Resilience results from combining the Resilience results from combining the power of the positive power of the positive withwith the negative the negative

Sequences of copingSequences of coping

Emotion-focused copingEmotion-focused copingProblem-focused coping (PFC)Problem-focused coping (PFC)

Moving to PFC is supported by Meaning-Moving to PFC is supported by Meaning-focused copingfocused coping

The ‘ordinary magic’ of becoming resilientThe ‘ordinary magic’ of becoming resilientA ‘socially constructed’ notionA ‘socially constructed’ notion

Build their resolveBuild their resolveSystems must create realistic, yet challenging, ‘tests’Systems must create realistic, yet challenging, ‘tests’

Perfect is incompletePerfect is incompleteProblem-free is not preparedProblem-free is not prepared

Learning from Lizzie’s storyLearning from Lizzie’s story

Perfect is incomplete (brings ‘entitlement’), so Perfect is incomplete (brings ‘entitlement’), so recruit from groups with adversity in their recruit from groups with adversity in their backgroundbackground

The severity of adversity you can handleThe severity of adversity you can handle Depends on the qualities ofDepends on the qualities of

your systemyour systemyour people your people

Responding to AdversityResponding to Adversity

ResilienceResilience

More than recoveryMore than recovery Only 8-20% exposed ‘convert’ to PTSDOnly 8-20% exposed ‘convert’ to PTSD

A common (grounded?) experienceA common (grounded?) experienceMany pathways (a process AND an outcome)Many pathways (a process AND an outcome) HardinessHardiness Self-enhancementSelf-enhancement Repressive copingRepressive coping Positive emotion and laughterPositive emotion and laughter

And it gets more complicated….And it gets more complicated….

‘Problems’‘Problems’from within and from within and beyondbeyond sport; sport;

they coincide;they coincide;last for different (often long) periodslast for different (often long) periods

What makes junior to senior career transitions difficult?

The development career transition model

Wylleman and Lavallee (2003)

See also Finn and McKenna (2010) IJSSC

Age 10 15 20 25 30 35

Initiation Development Mastery Discontinuation

Childhood Adolescence

Peers

Coach

Parents

Parents

Siblings

Peers

Secondary education

Higher education

Vocational training

Professional occupation

Partner

Coach

Family

(Coach)

Adulthood

Primary education

Athletic Level

Psychosocial Level

Academic Vocational

Level

Psychological Level

Age 10 15 20 25 30 35

Initiation Development Mastery Discontinuation

Childhood Adolescence

Peers

Coach

Parents

Parents

Siblings

Peers

Secondary education

Higher education

Vocational training

Professional occupation

Partner

Coach

Family

(Coach)

Adulthood

Primary education

Athletic Level

Psychosocial Level

Academic Vocational

Level

Psychological Level

What is RESILIENCE ?What is RESILIENCE ?Score (1-10) 1 – not very good at this, 10 – very good at this

------- I am compassionate and contribute to societyI am compassionate and contribute to society

------- ------- I am empatheticI am empathetic

------- ------- I am stress hardyI am stress hardy

------- ------- I establish realistic goals and expectationsI establish realistic goals and expectations

------- ------- I feel in control of my lifeI feel in control of my life

------- ------- I feel special (not self-centred) and I help others to feel the sameI feel special (not self-centred) and I help others to feel the same

------- ------- I learn from both success and failureI learn from both success and failure

------- ------- I live responsibly based on considered valuesI live responsibly based on considered values

------- ------- I use effective communication and interpersonal skillsI use effective communication and interpersonal skills

------- ------- I use solid problem-solving and decision-making skills I use solid problem-solving and decision-making skills

Use powerful aids for balance……Use powerful aids for balance……Relying on money undermines ‘personal solidarity’Relying on money undermines ‘personal solidarity’

Some behaviours undermine othersSome behaviours undermine othersWeapons of Weapons of self self destructiondestruction

Sport/ Life eventsSport/ Life eventsGrowth opportunitiesGrowth opportunities

System

Person

Building Resilience:Building Resilience:Links to ‘Super-compensation’ in training?Links to ‘Super-compensation’ in training?

Time

Immediateresponse

Currenttrainedlevel

Trainingimpulse

Short-termoverreaching

Recovery/regeneration

Supercompensation

Reversibility

Options for Building ResilienceOptions for Building Resilience Growth = Challenge + Support.Growth = Challenge + Support.

Time

Find the bigger meaningFind the bigger meaning