Examining the effect of coaching behaviors on the mental toughness of professional volleyball players

This study was conducted to examine the effect of coach behaviors on the mental resilience of professional volleyball players. The population of the study consists of volleyball players from the Women's Sultanlar League, 1st League, and 2nd League of the Turkish Volleyball Federation in 2024. The sample was composed of 139 athletes selected using the quota sampling method. The data collection tools used were a personal information form, the "Coach Behavior Evaluation Scale," and the "Mental Resilience Scale." The analysis of the collected data was performed using SPSS 25.0 software. Descriptive statistics such as arithmetic mean, frequency, standard deviation, and percentage values were examined in the analysis of the research data. To determine whether the research data followed a normal distribution, a normal distribution analysis was conducted by checking the skewness and kurtosis values. For both scales, these values were found to fall between -2 and +2. According to the results of the research, it was determined that there is a statistically significant difference in the mental toughness of professional volleyball players based on coach behaviors. In light of these findings, it was concluded that the behaviors and approaches of coaches may have an impact on enhancing athletes' mental toughness, and that the coach-athlete relationship plays a crucial role in psychological resilience. Keywords: Coach, Professional Volleyball Player, Sports, Mental Toughness.