English abstract
Purpose. Many studies have pointed out the role of psychological preparation in accomplishing
the best outcomes, as well as the value of their achievement orientations in motivating them to
reach higher levels of performance, particularly in competitive settings. The purpose of this study
was to evaluate elite football players' level of mental toughness and to understand the nature of
their achievement orientations in sport. It also aimed to explore the relationship between mental
toughness and achievement orientations. Methods. To achieve these goals, a mental toughness
scale and sport orientation scale were administered to a sample consisting of 61 first-league
players, including members of Oman's national team.The results of the study revealed that the
level of the mental toughness of the participants was within the average limits (m = 2.30 ± 0.26)
and that the task orientation is the most dominant achievement orientation compared to win and
competitiveness orientations (m = 4.75 ± 0.41). The study also revealed the existence of positive
statistically significant relationships between the mental toughness scale and its five dimensions at
(P˂0.01). There are also statistically significant relationships between the five dimensions of
mental toughness and the three dimensions of achievement orientations at (P0.05). Conclusion.
The study concluded that the most important characteristics of mental toughness among elite
football players in the Sultanate of Oman are the ability to handle pressure and ability to cope
with mistakes and the ability to focus and attention, and that the level of motivation is the most
important characteristic of players with a task orientation and win orientation. Finally, it
recommended that the results of this study should be considered as a guide to building
psychological preparation programs for elite players in the Sultanate of Oman.
