WHY STUDY GROUPS?

Important aspect of athletic performance; To understand behavior in sport, must understand dynamics of sport groups; All teams are groups; not all groups function as team; Team distinguished by support & dependency in pursuit of common goals; Question: how does a group of people become a cohesive team?

TEAM DEVELOPMENT

Evolutionary process; doesn’t just happen; Groups go through 4-stage development process to become team

FORMING

Group members familiarize themselves w/ each other; Members engage in social comparison & assessment; Interpersonal relationships formed & tested; Coaching tip: use strategies to facilitate group familiarity & ease group interaction

STORMING

Characterized by resistance to leader, resistance to control by the group, & conflict; Occurs as members experience conflicts due to demands; Typically occurs after practice routines established and rules made & enforced; Coaching tip: communicate clearly & objectively w/ members

NORMING

Hostility replaced by solidarity & cooperation; Athletes work together to reach common goals; Cohesion occurs; Team roles stabilize; Typically occurs as competitive season begins & common opponent identified; Coaching tip: facilitate by praising team members for effort, performance, & improvement; emphasize everyone’s unique contributions

PERFORMING

Members unify for team success; Personal relationships stabilize; Roles are well-defined; Players help each other succeed; Coaching tip: promote cooperative climate; provide constructive feedback

TEAM DEVELOPMENT KEY POINTS

Each stage different length for different teams; Sequence might differ among groups; Process can be cyclical or pendular; Achieving stage doesn’t mean team will stay there

GROUP STRUCTURE

2 important characteristics of successful group structure: roles & norms

ROLES

Set of behaviors required or expected of a person occupying a specific group position; Can be either formal or informal

FORMAL ROLES

Dictated by structure of organization (e.g. team captain, coach, assistant coach)

INFORMAL ROLES

Evolve organically from interactions among group members (e.g., team mediator, team enforcer, team clown, etc.)

RESEARCH ON ROLES

Role acceptance enhances team structure; Important to make sure perceptions of roles are consistent; Important to make sure players understand & accept roles

NORMS

Standards for performance and behavior; Carry specific expectations & behaviors that group members are expected to follow; Examples – rookies carry equipment; game day dress code; being on time means 15 min. early, etc.

RESEARCH ON NORMS

Important to establish positive group norms/standards; Effective strategy for coach to enlist team leaders to set positive norms; Important to demonstrate how norms contribute to successful team performance

TEAM CLIMATE

Cultivating positive team climate important for group success; Players’ perceptions & evaluations set team’s climate; Coach/leader has strongest influence on establishing team climate

SOCIAL SUPPORT

Support from teammates, coaches, parents, & friends positively correlated with athletes’ performance & feelings of group cohesion

PROXIMITY

Close contact w/ teammates promotes interaction & helps w/ team developmental process

DISTINCTIVENESS

When group feels distinct, its sense of unity increases

FAIRNESS

Team members must perceive they’re being evaluated & treated fairly and objectively; coach’s level of perceived fairness influences team commitment, motivation, & satisfaction

SIMILARITY

Similar level of commitment, attitudes, aspirations, & goals help develop positive team climate