1. Sports Psychology

2. Group Dynamics of Performance

3. Structured Patterns of Communication
Properties of Groups
Collective
Identity
Group
Unity
A Common
Goal
Shared
Purpose
Structured Patterns of Communication

4. Group Dynamics - Groups / Teams
There must be interaction between individuals for them to be classified as a group!
The group members must get on with each other, and they need to have a collective identity.
The group must also have shared goals, targets, norms and values - and be prepared to achieve these goals collectively.
For a group to be classed as a team, the members need to depend upon each other and offer support to try to interact and achieve the team’s goals.

5. Note Steiner’s Model

7. Steiner’s Model
Steiner designed a model to explain group effectiveness.
Actual productivity = potential productivity - losses due to faulty group processes
Can you explain what this could mean?
What things could be included as faulty group processes?

8. Faulty Processes!
Motivational Losses - happen when one or some of the members don’t give 100% effort due to a decrease in motivation.
Often related to Social Loafing!!
Co-ordination Losses - happen when the team interact poorly, or ineffective strategies are used in a game.
Often termed the Ringlemann effect!!

9. Tasks!
In your groups, you must create a 10-step dance routine (this can be as simple or complex as you wish).

10. Stages of group development
Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing

11. Faulty Processes that can create co-ordination losses
Injury can disrupt strategies
Lack of incentive to produce teamwork
Vague individual roles
Low sum of players’ overall ability
Personality – those with low trait confidence
Inadequate leadership inhibits teamwork

12. Tasks!
In your groups, you must create a 10-step dance routine (this can be as simple or complex as you wish).
Now join another group and complete one of your routines.

13. The Ringlemann Effect – Co-ordination Losses
The Ringlemann effect is what happens when a group size increases.
Essentially the bigger the group, the operational effectiveness (co- ordination between team members) of the people in the group decreases.
This can be up to 50% in some cases!
This can also caused by motivational losses as well as
co-ordination losses.
Explain what happened in the dance routine in relation to the Ringelmann effect. Why did this happen?

15. Social Loafing – Motivational Losses
Social Loafing is when group members do not put in 100% effort when in a group or team-based situation.
This is generally due to loss in motivation.
Rugby video

16. So what are the factors that cause someone to social loaf?

17. Faulty Processes that can create motivational losses
Feelings that others in the team are not trying
Feeling that performances are never watched or valued by the coach
Low self-confidence may result in social loafing to protect self-esteem
Those with negative experiences tend to social loaf e.g. failure
Loss of motivation if the task is seen as too difficult – avoidance behaviour

18. Task How can we reduce social loafing?
Think of three strategies and explain them.

19. Strategies to Reduce Social Loafing
Identify the social loafing situation and reduce this situation
Identifying individual contributions – not just group outcomes
Make sure individuals understand the importance of contributing within the team
Statistics can be used to individually evaluate contributions made by individual players
Regular feedback on individual contribution should be made
Games can be videoed to provide individual analysis
Ensure fitness levels are high to avoid physical loafing in games

20. Cohesion
Cohesion is a dynamic process that means a group tends to stick together and unite in the pursuit of its goals and objectives.
Cohesion is split into two basic forms - Social and Task.

21. Social and Task Cohesion
Social Cohesion relates to how well the team-mates enjoy each others’ company. This directly relates to getting on with one another during a task. Task Cohesion is how well (or effective) the group or team- members work together to achieve common goals or objectives. Task cohesion is more closely related to sporting performance.

22. Carron’s Model of Cohesion
Carron (1982) suggests that four main factors affect cohesion:
Environmental
Personal
Leadership
Team

23. Environment
Groups that are closer to each other (in terms of location) and smaller tend to be more cohesive.
Members have a greater opportunity to interact if the group is closer!

24. Personal The individual characteristics of the group are vital!
If players are motivated to achieve the goals and objectives...
are from similar backgrounds...
have similar attitudes...
have the same level of commitment...
There will be more satisfaction in the group and it is more likely to be cohesive!

25. Leadership Leadership is key to the cohesion of any group.
The style, compatibility, communication and the leaders’ own personality are key factors that affect a group’s ability.

26. Team If the team can stay together: for long periods of time...
through a range of experiences (positive and negative)...
and become involved the decision-making process...
the group is more likely to become productive and cohesive!

27. Analysis
Using a team of your choice (professional or amateur), in pairs write down how Carron’s model of cohesion may have affected the cohesion of the group.
Think about the four factors of environmental, personal, leadership and team.
Try to give specific examples for each of the four factors discussed.

28. Developing Team Cohesion
How can we develop a more cohesive team?

29. Task
What would make you want to continue to participate in a team, or stay in an exercise group?
Think of as many things as you can.

30. Increasing Cohesion Good coach / team discussion Understanding roles
Team to meet together regularly
Clear goals and objectives
Avoiding social cliques or sub-groups
Creating a group identity

31. Factors Affecting Participation in a Group or Team
Clear roles given to players – make them feel valued
Participation in team-building exercises
Evaluation of each member’s performance – reduces social loafing
Punishment of non-cohesive players – highlights team cohesion
Select team players only, rather than those interested in themselves
Development of team goals – encourages effectiveness
Rehearsal of set plays for group co-ordination
Strong leadership encourages cohesion

32. 20 Markers – G453 Jan 2013
Using psychological theories and practical examples, explain why some teams seem to be more cohesive and successful than other teams of similar ability.