Effects of coach trust on grit and athletic career commitment among elite soccer players: A career motivation theory perspective

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of grit in the relationship between coach trust and athletic career commitment among elite soccer players. Convenience sampling was used, and 225 elite soccer players from high school and university teams registered with the Korea Football Association participated in this study. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 21.0. The results indicate that coach trust did not have a significant direct effect on athletic career commitment. However, coach trust had a significant positive effect on grit, which had a significant positive effect on athletic career commitment. Additionally, grit fully mediated the relationship between coach trust and athletic career commitment. These findings contribute to the application of Career Motivation Theory within elite sport by demonstrating that coach trust, as an environmental factor, influences athletic career commitment through grit, an intrapersonal psychological resource.