Football: Exploring passion, grit and mindset in elite and junior players

Abstract

The main goal of the study was to explore the relationship between passion, grit and mindset in a group of football players in Norway. The sample had 49 participants. In two different groups in relation to age and level. Sogndal elite team (N = 22) (Elite) and Sogndal Junior team (N = 27) (Junior). To assess the level of passion the passion scale was used, an eight-item scale. To measure grit the Grit-S scale was used. The scale has 8 items. Mindset was measured with the Theories of Intelligence Scale (TIS). The scale has 8-items. To measure harmonious and obsessive passion The Passion scale was used. The results show that the elite team did have the highest score in four out of five factors. Significant difference between elite and Junior was, however, not found. The results indicate significant correlations between the variables; passion - grit (r = 0.418, p < .01), passion - harmonious passion (r = 0.624, p < .01), grit-mindset (r = 0.309, p < .05) and grit - harmonious passion (r = 0.473, p < .01). Elite: a significant correlation for the variables passion - harmonious passion (r = 0.558, p < .01), grit and harmonious passion (r = 0.440, p < .05) and harmonious - obsessive passion (r = . 608, p < .01). Junior: a significant correlation for the variables passion - grit (r = 0.647, p < .01), passion - harmonious passion (r = . 702, p < .01), and grit - harmonious passion (r = 0.558, p < .01). Fischer r-to-z transformation indicate significant difference between elite and junior group for the correlation passion-grit (p = .04) and harmonious - obsessive passion (p = .01). The findings are discussed in relation to previous research exploring the relationships between passion, grit and mindset in achievement contexts. Consequently, the differences found in association between passion and grit, might imply that different personality traits may be characteristic for football players at different levels.