International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2015, 10, 137-138

http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/IJSPP.2015-0017
2015 Human Kinetics, Inc.

www.IJSPP-Journal.com
EDITORIAL

When Failure Is Not an Option: Creating Excellence in Sport

Through Insights From Special Forces
Sport presents elite athletes with numerous physical and psychological challenges. According to Professor Vincent Walsh,1 only a
soldier in combat is presented with a more challenging activity for
the human brain. Both sport and combat require physical preparation, mental focus, and emotional control. While success in sport
can result in social recognition, financial gain, and a sense of selfachievement, success for elite soldiers is linked to achieving mission
objectives while at the same time remaining functional and avoiding
casualties. Given the demands placed on elite soldiers, the high-stress
environment in which they perform, the intense training and selection
processes they endure, and ultimately the consequences of failure, it
is highly likely that the elite sport community can benefit from understanding different aspects of selecting and preparing Special Forces
soldiers. At the very least, a comparison of these 2 elite groups may
help us understand characteristics that may exemplify excellence.
There are a number of similarities between Special Forces (SF)
soldiers and elite athletes with respect to physiological characteristics. SF soldiers (US Navy SEALs) have been reported to have high
aerobic capacities (VO2 62 mL kg1 min1), as well as high muscle
strength, power, and endurance.2,3 However, while elite athletes are
likely to have fitness characteristics that are specific to their sport,
SF soldiers have a broader array of attributes dictated by the complex and demanding environment in which they may be required to
operate. One primary difference in preparation and development of
SF soldiers is that there is not a clear timeline associated with when
they will be called into action. Athletes are able to plan their training
cycle for predetermined competitions, while SF soldiers are expected
to cycle through different states of readiness for deployment.
While scientific data comparing the neurophysiology of elite
athletes and elite soldiers do not exist (or are not available), some
interesting data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
and electroencephalography (EEG) suggest that there may be some
similarities in areas of brain functioning related to cognitive flexibilitybeing able to deal with stressful and complex situations. In
an examination of psychophysiological refinement in world-class
Norwegian athletes, Harung et al4 demonstrated that world-class
athletes (top 10 places in Olympic Games, World Championships, or
World Cups for at least 3 seasons) had higher brain functioning than
athletes who had been training for a similar amount of time yet were
not considered world-class.4 Using EEG, the authors reported that
the world-class athletes had higher scores on the Brain Integration
Scale, calculated from EEG scores during paired reaction-time tasks.
This may be considered important for athletes in terms of perception,
planning, strategizing, and motor performance; remaining calm and
alert to adapt to changes in the environment; and better matching
between task demand and brain activation.4
The ability for the brain to be flexible and adaptable in highstress situations is a critical attribute of SF soldiers. Researchers
have used fMRI to examine Navy SEALs, and results demonstrated that the SEALs, rather than reacting to a stress, were able
to quickly and effectively shift their focus of attention, suggestive
of an efficient and flexible brain.5 Therefore, both elite athletes and

elite soldiers may demonstrate superior brain functioning partly

explaining how these individuals both cope and function at very
high levels in challenging situations.
Another domain in which some similarities exist between elite
soldiers and elite athletes is the psychology-related phenomena that
underpin performance. While the sources of stress may be vastly
different in these groups, some of the protective psychological
factors used to deal with such stressors may be similar. Sarkar and
Fletcher6 describe the 5 main families of psychological factors that
the best athletes use to cope with adversity. These include positive
personality, motivation, confidence, focus, and perceived social
support.6 The resiliency characteristics of Navy SEALs that enable
them to perform in extreme situations and environments have been
described as innovation, decisive action, interpersonal connectedness and support, integrity, self-discipline and self-control, and
optimism and positive thinking.7
While there are some clear similarities between elite athletes
and elite soldiers, there are also a number of important differences.
One of the fundamental contrasts is the way that athletes and soldiers
are identified and selected. Traditionally, most athletes are identified
as having talent via assessments of current performance, fitness,
anthropometric indicators, and skill. It is less common to assess
psychological characteristics and the ability to function and perform
under highly stressful conditions. While publically available literature on the specific details outlining how elite soldiers are selected
is scarce, in the military the process is a combination of several
critical aspects: physical resiliency, willingness to work within a
team above oneself, an absence of self-doubt, and good character.
Research in athletes has indicated that they are driven by
many personal goals and display self-determined motivation.8
External rewards such as money and social recognition may lead
to an enhanced perception of competence, which increases selfdetermined motivation.8 While multiple motivators also exist in
SF soldiers, the anonymous nature of their work means that most
are driven primarily by intrinsic motivation. While external factors
including money are not entirely overlooked by the SF community,
remuneration in comparison to the risks undertaken is incongruent.
However, the willingness to take on the risk is rewarded in other
ways. Protection of family and peers, national pride for the country
of origin, belief that a duty exists, and, for some, a higher belief of
divinity can be important motivators.
It is becoming increasingly common for media outlets to report
on elite athletes, particularly professional team-sport athletes,
being involved in criminal activity, whether that be drugs (illicit
or performance enhancing), alcohol, violence, or gender violence.
Whether the incidence of bad behavior is more or less than in the
general population is debated. Regardless, the consequences for
the reputation of the athlete and the image of elite sport can be
severe. Furthermore, moral disengagement has been linked to the
risk of doping.9 Given that integrity, or doing the right thing, is a
key characteristic of SF soldiers, elite sport may benefit from SF
perspectives.
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Halson and Nichols

Perhaps the manner in which appropriate disciplinary action

occurs (or does not occur) also influences poor behavior in athletes.
While the disciplinary response to poor behavior or even illegal
activity is likely highly variable across sports, providing appropriate and consistent action is necessary. In the SF community there
is a very wide range of consequences, depending on the offense.
In relation to drug use of any kind, a zero-tolerance policy exists.
Not only is the person removed from the military, oftentimes the
service member will receive a dishonorable discharge, and there is
a possibility of federal prison time.
Ultimately, coaches, support staff, and individuals in leadership
roles in sport should protect and support athletes and provide them
with an appropriate duty of care. To achieve this we should use bestpractice selection methodologies, support the athletes both physically
and psychologically, promote personal responsibility, and provide
appropriate discipline and consequences in a consistent manner.
While the military may lack the sophistication of elite sport with
regard to the scientific approach and development of SF soldiers
training and physiology, there are other aspects of the SF community
that elite sport may benefit from. In the athletic world, there may
be deficiencies in identifying athletes with a superior desire for
excellence and an ability to display discipline. It is notable that elite
athletes and SF soldiers may lack exactly what the other possesses
in abundance. Bridging this gap may help attain objectives for both
athletes and elite soldiershighly functional, resilient, moral, and
versatile elite performers.
Shona L Halson,
Australian Institute of Sport,
Australian Catholic University
Jeffery G. Nichols, former Navy SEAL,
Virginia High Performance LLC

References
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