ABSTRACT
It is now widely accepted that psychological characteristics play a pivotal role in helping athletes achieve optimal performance. Indeed, when elite athletes match up physically, technically, and tactically, it is often the strength of their mental game that proves to be the tiebreaker in the moments that matter. In this chapter, we introduce some fresh characteristics associated with optimal performance that are beginning to emerge in sport psychology literature, and then explore the role that the developmental climate plays in shaping these characteristics. In highlighting how these two aspects converge we will also introduce a research-informed model of talent development that elucidates the interplay between environmental and psychological factors in shaping athletes who develop to, and excel at, the world-class level.
