Team BuildingTeam Building

Craig Hall & Bert CarronCraig Hall & Bert CarronUniversity of Western OntarioUniversity of Western Ontario

What Are the Main What Are the Main Characteristics of Effective Characteristics of Effective

Teams?Teams?

The team wins!!The team wins!! Its members (athletes, Its members (athletes,

coaches, support staff) coaches, support staff) enjoy/are satisfied with enjoy/are satisfied with their sport experience!!their sport experience!!

What Group Dynamics Variables What Group Dynamics Variables Have a Strong Relationship with Team Have a Strong Relationship with Team

Effectiveness?Effectiveness?

Team Goal SettingTeam Goal Setting Team CohesionTeam Cohesion- Increasing mutual respect

- Increasing role clarity and acceptance

- Preplanning for adversity

- Establishing acceptable standards for behavior

Team Goal-Setting Team Goal-Setting

Research to PracticeResearch to Practice

Team Goal-Setting Team Goal-Setting

Research to PracticeResearch to Practice

Team goals are more Team goals are more effective than individual effective than individual goals for team successgoals for team success

Team goals are more Team goals are more effective than individual effective than individual goals for team successgoals for team success

Research-based PrincipleResearch-based PrincipleResearch-based PrincipleResearch-based Principle Implementation StrategyImplementation StrategyImplementation StrategyImplementation Strategy

Team goals should be Team goals should be established by or in established by or in consultation with all consultation with all athletes on the team athletes on the team (when possible)(when possible)

Coach support is Coach support is essential for team-goal essential for team-goal setting effectivenesssetting effectiveness

Coach support is Coach support is essential for team-goal essential for team-goal setting effectivenesssetting effectiveness

PrinciplePrinciplePrinciplePrinciple Implementation StrategyImplementation StrategyImplementation StrategyImplementation Strategy

Evaluation, feedback, Evaluation, feedback, and re-evaluation are and re-evaluation are essential for team-goal essential for team-goal setting effectivenesssetting effectiveness

Evaluation, feedback, Evaluation, feedback, and re-evaluation are and re-evaluation are essential for team-goal essential for team-goal setting effectivenesssetting effectiveness

Subgroup DiscussionsSubgroup Discussions

In subgroups, discuss how you have or could implement each of these principles

Summarize the products of your subgroup discussion to share with the whole group

SummarySummarySummarySummary

• Team goal setting programTeam goal setting program

• Established by team membersEstablished by team members

• Comprising outcome for season and Comprising outcome for season and performance indices for upcoming game(s)performance indices for upcoming game(s)

•Involving specific, measurable TEAM indicesInvolving specific, measurable TEAM indices

• Supported & reinforced by the coachSupported & reinforced by the coach

• With regular feedback and evaluation With regular feedback and evaluation

• Team goal setting programTeam goal setting program

• Established by team membersEstablished by team members

• Comprising outcome for season and Comprising outcome for season and performance indices for upcoming game(s)performance indices for upcoming game(s)

•Involving specific, measurable TEAM indicesInvolving specific, measurable TEAM indices

• Supported & reinforced by the coachSupported & reinforced by the coach

• With regular feedback and evaluation With regular feedback and evaluation

Increasing Team Cohesion Increasing Team Cohesion

Research to PracticeResearch to Practice

Team Cohesion

A cohesive team is one in which team A cohesive team is one in which team members are drawn to a common goal and members are drawn to a common goal and are integrated around the pursuit of that are integrated around the pursuit of that goal and satisfying social interactions and goal and satisfying social interactions and communicationcommunication

Anecdotal PerspectivesAnecdotal Perspectives

We must all hang together, or assuredly we We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separatelyshall all hang separately

Ben Franklin, 1776Ben Franklin, 1776

Carron, Colman, Wheeler, & Stevens (2002)Carron, Colman, Wheeler, & Stevens (2002)

Meta analysis of 46 studies Meta analysis of 46 studies

9988 athletes & 1044 teams9988 athletes & 1044 teams

514 effect sizes (ES)514 effect sizes (ES)

Meta-Analytic SummaryMeta-Analytic Summary

Interpretation of Effect Sizes Interpretation of Effect Sizes

Cohen’s (Cohen’s (1969, 19921969, 1992) suggested the following) suggested the following

Effect Sizes around Effect Sizes around .20.20 == ““SmallSmall””

Effect Sizes around Effect Sizes around .50.50 == ““MediumMedium””

Effect Sizes around Effect Sizes around .80.80 == ““LargeLarge””

FactorFactor Effect SizeEffect Size

.577.577

.410.410

TaskTask

SocialSocial

.20 = small; .50 = medium; .80 = large.20 = small; .50 = medium; .80 = large

All Measures CombinedAll Measures Combined .499.499

Cohesion-Success RelationshipCohesion-Success Relationship

Group dynamics experts consider Group dynamics experts consider cohesioncohesion to to be “the be “the most importantmost important small group variable” small group variable”

Team Building for CohesionTeam Building for Cohesion

Cohesion develops Cohesion develops naturally as a result of naturally as a result of coaching and day-to-coaching and day-to-day interactionsday interactions

Team building protocols are beneficial for Team building protocols are beneficial for enhancing perceptions of team cohesion enhancing perceptions of team cohesion

Establishing Mutual RespectEstablishing Mutual Respect

1.1. On a blank sheet of paper list each group member On a blank sheet of paper list each group member other than yourself.other than yourself.

2.2. At the top of the sheet write the phrase At the top of the sheet write the phrase “I want “I want XXXX in my group because …..”XXXX in my group because …..”

3.3. Write a comment or comments about each person in Write a comment or comments about each person in the group. the group.

I want XXX in group because …I want XXX in group because …

NAMENAME REASON(S)REASON(S)

Bill SmithBill Smith

Brad JonesBrad Jones

Dan ToppingDan Topping

George ShortGeorge Short

etc.etc.

4. Forms are collated by facilitator, coach, or 4. Forms are collated by facilitator, coach, or trainer.trainer.

5. Comments about each person (athlete) are 5. Comments about each person (athlete) are transferred to a single summary form. This is transferred to a single summary form. This is repeated for each athlete. repeated for each athlete.

Establishing Mutual Respect (cont.)Establishing Mutual Respect (cont.)

I want Bill Smith on my team because …I want Bill Smith on my team because …

Huge heart, spirit and Huge heart, spirit and pridepride

One of the strongest guys One of the strongest guys I knowI know

Keeps our team Keeps our team honesthonest

He’s an He’s an inspirationinspiration

Example of FeedbackExample of Feedback

ConsiderationsConsiderations

• Every athlete has both input and feedbackEvery athlete has both input and feedback

• Positive statements onlyPositive statements only

• One time implementation One time implementation

• With more mature teams you could have a 3-part With more mature teams you could have a 3-part exercise:exercise:

-““Keep doing”Keep doing”

- “ “Start doing”Start doing”

- “ “Stop doing”Stop doing”

Enhancing Role Clarity and AcceptanceEnhancing Role Clarity and Acceptance

Role clarity is the degree to which a player Role clarity is the degree to which a player understands what behavior is expected. understands what behavior is expected.

Role acceptance is the degree to Role acceptance is the degree to which a player is satisfied with which a player is satisfied with his/her role responsibilities.his/her role responsibilities.

The roles on a team can be formal (e.g., The roles on a team can be formal (e.g., captain) or informal.captain) or informal.

Increasing role clarity Increasing role clarity will increase team will increase team cohesioncohesion

Increasing role clarity Increasing role clarity will increase team will increase team cohesioncohesion

Research-based PrincipleResearch-based PrincipleResearch-based PrincipleResearch-based Principle Implementation StrategyImplementation StrategyImplementation StrategyImplementation Strategy

Increasing role Increasing role acceptance will increase acceptance will increase team cohesionteam cohesion

Subgroup DiscussionsSubgroup Discussions

In subgroups, discuss how you have or could implement each of these principles

Summarize the products of your subgroup discussion to share with the whole group

SummarySummarySummarySummary

• Each team member needs to know his/her roleEach team member needs to know his/her role

• Every team member needs to know every other Every team member needs to know every other team member’s roleteam member’s role

• Every team member needs to accept his or her Every team member needs to accept his or her rolerole

• Each team member needs to know his/her roleEach team member needs to know his/her role

• Every team member needs to know every other Every team member needs to know every other team member’s roleteam member’s role

• Every team member needs to accept his or her Every team member needs to accept his or her rolerole

Preplanning for AdversityPreplanning for Adversity

1.1. Prior to competition, collectively (i.e., in a group) Prior to competition, collectively (i.e., in a group) identify the things that could go wrongidentify the things that could go wrong

2.2. Uses as many categories as seems appropriateUses as many categories as seems appropriate

e.g., travel, competitione.g., travel, competition

Possible Screw-UpsPossible Screw-Ups

TravelTravel

Van breaks downVan breaks down

Someone arrives lateSomeone arrives late

CompetitionCompetition

Equipment troublesEquipment troubles

Get off to a poor startGet off to a poor start

3. Discuss how screw-ups should be handled 3. Discuss how screw-ups should be handled

Preplanning for Adversity (cont.)Preplanning for Adversity (cont.)

Possible Screw-Ups Possible StrategiesPossible Screw-Ups Possible Strategies

TravelTravel

Van breaks downVan breaks down

Someone arrives lateSomeone arrives late

CompetitionCompetition

Equipment troublesEquipment troubles

Get off to a poor startGet off to a poor start

TravelTravel

Rent another vanRent another van

Start earlyStart early

CompetitionCompetition

Borrow form another teamBorrow form another team

Don’t panicDon’t panic

1.1. Protocol serves to “nip it in the bud”Protocol serves to “nip it in the bud”

2.2. Emphasis throughout should be “we can handle Emphasis throughout should be “we can handle this”, “no surprise is overly negative”this”, “no surprise is overly negative”

ConsiderationsConsiderations

Establishing Acceptable Standards for Establishing Acceptable Standards for BehaviorBehavior

Norms are the standards of behavior that are Norms are the standards of behavior that are expected of group members.expected of group members.

Conformity to group norms is positively Conformity to group norms is positively related to team cohesion.related to team cohesion.

Members of our team Members of our team are ……..are ……..

Characteristics:Characteristics:

PunctualPunctual

SupportiveSupportive

Hard workingHard working

Behaviors:Behaviors:

-Arrive on time at practicesArrive on time at practices

-No bitching at teammatesNo bitching at teammates

- Give 100% in practiceGive 100% in practice

Members of our team Members of our team do …….do …….

Team norms should exist Team norms should exist for competitions, for competitions, practices, the off-season, practices, the off-season, and for social situationsand for social situations

Team norms should exist Team norms should exist for competitions, for competitions, practices, the off-season, practices, the off-season, and for social situationsand for social situations

Research-based PrincipleResearch-based PrincipleResearch-based PrincipleResearch-based Principle Implementation StrategyImplementation StrategyImplementation StrategyImplementation Strategy

Unacceptable behavior Unacceptable behavior requires appropriate requires appropriate sanctioningsanctioning

Subgroup DiscussionsSubgroup Discussions

In subgroups, discuss how you have or could implement each of these principles

Summarize the products of your subgroup discussion to share with the whole group

SummarySummarySummarySummary

• Norms develop around matters of importance Norms develop around matters of importance to the team.to the team.

•The strongest team norms are associated with The strongest team norms are associated with work output; teams put pressure on their players work output; teams put pressure on their players to work hard.to work hard.

•Acceptable behavior is approved or rewarded Acceptable behavior is approved or rewarded while unacceptable behavior is sanctioned.while unacceptable behavior is sanctioned.

• Norms develop around matters of importance Norms develop around matters of importance to the team.to the team.

•The strongest team norms are associated with The strongest team norms are associated with work output; teams put pressure on their players work output; teams put pressure on their players to work hard.to work hard.

•Acceptable behavior is approved or rewarded Acceptable behavior is approved or rewarded while unacceptable behavior is sanctioned.while unacceptable behavior is sanctioned.

A Concluding ObservationA Concluding Observation

We need to work on team building to make teams more effective.

I’m glad to I’m glad to hear you’re hear you’re finally finally fitting in!!fitting in!!