ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly introduces the topic of talent development in sport with a focus on 'mental toughness' as a perceived requirement for athletic success. The topic of mental toughness and its relationship to high performance sport talent development is reviewed, critiqued, and proposed as a guise for athlete maltreatment with potentially harmful effects on athletes. Athletes, coaches, sport administrators, and the media consistently acknowledge the importance of mental toughness for talent development. Researchers have raised concerns about potential negative impacts of a focus on mental toughness development on athletes' physical health. A major element of mental toughness is the ability to navigate adversity, including the abilities to cope with associated negative emotions, to recover from adverse experiences, and to learn and grow from such experiences. Additionally, a coach who exemplifies an athlete welfare approach plays a facilitative role, encouraging and guiding the processes of self-awareness, self-discovery and development of autonomy in athletes.
