Aids+and+barriers+to+team+cohesion

=** AIDS AND BARRIERS TO TEAM COHESION **= = =


 * // Common aids to team cohesion //**

Factors which may INCREASE team cohesion:
 * **//Common//** **//goals//** = Team goals should be developed by the athletes and coaches together. Developing the goals together gives all athletes a sense of ownership and ensures commitment. **//Widmeyer et al. (1992),//** it was found that a **//stated team goal, along with its acceptance//**, was the most important contributor to task cohesion. If everyone owns the goal, everyone will work together to achieve it.
 * **//Process goals//** (e.g., time of ball possesssion, not simply winning or losing - examine what worked and what did not work) seem to be **//more efficient in promoting team cohesion//**. Process goals describe what is to be done in practice, as well as competition, and are not focused on the outcome **//(Locke and Latham 1985).//** Process goals enhance cohesion by **//providing daily successes that are accomplished by the team together//**. Process goals focus on the small steps that lead to the common goal—this could be greater team, **//confidence or collective efficacy//**. Bandura (1997) defined this as a team's shared belief in its ability to reach a common goal. **//Process-oriented approach// (focus on smaller, measurable skills)** can help team members to develop a notion of team cohesion and ways to achieve success together.
 * **//Effective two-way communication that is clear and direct.//** Good communication skills result in an increase in self-esteem, respect, trust, and decision-making skills.
 * **//Consistent communication.//** Sullivan (1993) developed a communication skills training programme for interactive sports teams and found that this led to more open and honest communication, as well as an increase in morale and team cohesion.
 * **//Players/team members must accept their roles//**. In order for players to accept their roles, each has to feel that his or her role has meaning and contributes to the team's success. Coaches play a very important role in helping players understand and accept their roles. It is important that coaches minimize the status differences of the roles and emphasize the team goals. **//Beauchamp et al. (2005)//** asked athletes to engage in role-playing exercises, during which they would simulate being in a critical situation to perform, or circumstances in which they felt pressured by the coach. This helped players to **//develop a sense of empathy for team members, and increased a sense of team spirit.//**
 * **//Role clarity.//** Making sure that players understand their role on the team—-and role acceptance—that is, that members are willing to accept the responsibilities and conditions of that role—are also important in team, cohesion. Goal setting can help to foster role clarity.


 * // Common barriers to team cohesion //**

Factors which may DECREASE team cohesion:
 * **//Clash of personalities//** in the group
 * **//Conflict of task or social roles//** among members of the group
 * **//Breakdown in communication//** among group members or between the group leader and members
 * **//Ambiguous/inconsistent communication //**. It is important that the coach communicates expectations directly to team members.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">One or more **//members struggling for power//**
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**//Frequent turnover//** of group members
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**//Disagreement on group goals and objectives. Goals//** play a major role in the development of individual athletes' skills and of task cohesion. The coach should not be the sole decision-maker in the establishment of "team" goals. The coach and the team captains can provide leadership in goal setting, but, ultimately, goals should be determined by the whole team.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**//Focus on outcome goals//**. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**//Outcome goals//** which state that the team will win every game in the season, or win the season championship, **//do not motivate throughout the season//**. Members may lose sight of goals and stray from the path necessary to accomplish the goals (**//Weinberg et al. 1991//**).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**//Players not accepting their roles or having their contributions recognized//**. Players who are not in the starting line-up or do not get significant playing time can become discouraged. According to **//Weinberg (2007),// //role acceptance depends on four conditions//**: 1) opportunity to use specialized skills; 2) feedback and role recognition; 3) role significance; and 4) autonomy—that is, the opportunity to work independently.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**//Role ambiguity//** is one of the key reasons for team member dissatisfaction (Bray et al. 2005). It is important for a member of a team to know if he or she is the one directing offence, otherwise competition within the team—or outright conflict—will result.