Courage, in sports and in life, is not inborn in people but can be cultivated with support and positive example set by others, notes the February issue of the Penn State Sports Medicine Newsletter.

"What people call courage, we call mental toughness," says John Heil, D.A., a sports psychologist in Roanoke, Va. "It is more than just physical courage. It includes dealing with disappointment, returning to action after a traumatic event, commitment to a cause and the disciplined attention to detail necessary to achieve a goal. At the high end, mental toughness and courage are the same thing."

"You can't teach those qualities directly, but an environment can be created by athletes, parents and coaches where they can be developed and even thrive," Heil adds. "The whole concept of courage in sports is fostered by group dynamics. When one person or a group of persons demonstrates a base of mental toughness, they lead by example and others become more empowered."

No one is destined to be a coward, according to Heil. It is obvious, however, that some people have a greater readiness level than others for certain tasks and, for them, the quality of physical courage comes easier.

"We are born with predispositions that influence the way we react to physical or emotional stress," says Iona University sports psychologist Julian Morrow, Ph.D. "Some people need a high tolerance of fear. They need a lot of arousal to be at a satisfactory level, and they like to be in situations that would make others very uncomfortable. But, regardless of predisposition, the way all of us behave in stressful situations can be learned."

"Everybody starts the process of sports participation at different points in terms of physical, social and emotional skills," Heil says. "Just because we start at a place doesn't mean we have to stay there. People who are not good at taking a hit can develop the skill and those who are good at it can get better."

Courage involves the willingness to take risks, but risk-taking can lead to either good or bad decisions. To achieve results, courage has to be paired with good judgment and the right skill level, says the Penn State Sports Medicine Newsletter.

"First, we have to recognize that fear is normal," Heil says. "It has an upside in that it teaches you to respect conditions, to exercise caution in certain situations, to assess accurately one's skills and to focus intently in order to perform at top level."

The second step is to recognize that social support can bolster courage. The encouragement of others can, for instance, give an athlete the drive and energy to go through a demanding recovery and rehabilitation process after an injury.

By putting athletes into controlled but stressful situations, coaches and parents can help athletes make good choices. Some athletes are simply not skilled or experienced enough to do that without help. Rookies at all levels, including professionals, should not be placed in situations they are not equipped to handle, the newsletter says.