Gritting One’s way to success – Grit explains skill in elite youth soccer players beyond (deliberate) practice

Practice is one of the most important predictors skill. To become an expert, performers must engage in practice for a prolonged time to develop psychological characteristics necessary outstanding performance. Deliberate (DP), that focused repetitive activities with corrective feedback, particularly beneficial skill development. The amount accumulated DP differentiates experts and novices. However, predictive strength weakens considerably when it comes differentiating between differently skilled experts, leaving way clear other non-practice related factors exercise their influence. In this paper, we demonstrate using large sample (388) elite youth soccer players such factor, personality trait grit, predicts expertise level both directly indirectly. Grittier more coach-led team practice, activity, which arguably closest sports, turn predicted level. Other activities, as self-led training or playing peers, were not level, neither they influenced by grit. Grit, however, continued exert direct positive influence on even after accounting hours accumulated. Overall, standard deviation change grit score resulted at least third improvement Our findings highlight need inclusion additional theoretical frameworks situations where power traditional factors, limited.