How Mental Performance Consultants Describe Self-Regulated Learning, Its Merits, and Its Implementation in Competitive Adolescent Sport

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is an athlete resource comprising cognitive and motivational self-regulation associated with practice strategies foundational to elite talent development. Research has yet to consider Mental Performance Consultants’ views on SRL and the viability of targeting SRL in consulting. We interviewed 12 Mental Performance Consultants (eight women, four men) about the meanings they attach to SRL and whether SRL is important for competitive adolescents’ practice. Descriptive analysis detailed their concept of SRL, featuring “connection to quality practice,” “key property of athlete ownership,” and “SRL is cyclical.” Implementation and adaptation of SRL implicated “gathering and integrating information,” “adapting based on context,” “coach-plus perspective,” and “being okay with mistakes.” Their views aligned with predominant conceptualizations yet suggested new considerations (e.g., emotional regulation, knowledge foundations, adaptations between competition and practice). The Mental Performance Consultants described SRL in positive, coherent, and accessible terms for adolescent clients.