Ketangguhan Mental Pada Atlet Sepakbola di Surakarta

Abstract This study aimed to describe the mental toughness and the factors that affect a football athlete's mental toughness in an effort to achieve achievement or success. This research is important to know the extent of the influence of mental toughness on the achievements of an athlete based on the current phenomenon. The method used in this study is qualitative based on phenomenology and data collection is done through interviews. Subjects in this study is 7 football athlete who is still active in the field of sport as well as having experience in football sports championship both at the local, provincial, national, or international level at least once. The results showed that football athletes in Surakarta is still not mentally tough enough, the subject has not been able to consistently maintain concentration and performance when facing difficulties, feelings of distress when playing, maintaining thoughts and feelings, as well as controlling behavior in an effort to achieve the goal. But on the other hand the informants actually have high motivation and good behavior patterns to be able to excel as football athletes. Factors that support the mental toughness in football athletes in Surakarta are athlete's behavior in their daily lives, mindset when faced with a situation, training programs, match preparation, and post-competition evaluation. In addition, the factors that inhibit mental toughness in football athletes in Surakarta are injury and rehabilitation, the influence of social pressure, as well as internal pressure and external pressure. The impact of weak mental toughness makes it difficult for an athlete to reach the desired achievement. Keywords : mental toughness, athlete, football