5.2 Group and Team Dynamics and Goal Setting in Sport

Question 1

What is the definition of a group?

Answer 1

A group is a collection of people who both share similar goals and interact with one another.

Question 2

For a team dynamic to be successful, what are the 4 stages of the model?

Answer 2

1 forming
2 storming
3 norming
4 performing

Question 3

What is stage 1 of a sports team formation and how does it work?

Answer 3

Forming
High dependence on the leader for guidance and direction.
Group members get to know each other.
Little agreement on the aims of the team, other than received from the leader.
Each member’s individual role is unclear and the team leader must be prepared to give strong direction.

Question 4

What is stage 2 of a sports team formation and how does it work?

Answer 4

Storming
Group decisions are difficult.
Team members jostle for position in the team as they attempt to establish themselves in relation to other team members and the leader might receive challenge from team members.
Clearer focus for the team and they have a stronger sense of purpose, although many uncertainties.
Cliques form at this stage and power struggles.
Need to focus on goals to avoid distractions of relationships and emotional issues.
Environment of compromises to enable progress.
Leader has more a advisory or coaching role.

Question 5

What is stage 3 of a sports team formation and how does it work?

Answer 5

Norming
Much more agreement and consensus of opinion in the team. Responsibilities are clearer and generally accepted.
Decisions that are very important are increasingly made through group agreement. Less important decisions are delegated to individuals or small teams within the group.
Stronger sense of commitment and unity. Much more social and friendly. General respect for leader and leadership is likely to be shared.

Question 6

What is stage 4 of a sports team formation and how does it work?

Answer 6

Performing
Team has more strategies and clear vision and clear aims.
No interference from the leader.
Focus on achieving goals, and team makes most of the decisions against criteria agreed with the leader.
Team members are trusted to get on with the job in hand with little interference.
Disagreements occur but now they are resolved within the team positively and necessary change to processes are made.
Team is able to work and be personable at the same time.
Team does not need to be assisted or instructed.
Team members might ask for assistance from the leader with personal and interpersonal issues.

Question 7

What is team cohersion?

Answer 7

It concerns the motivation which attracts individuals to the group and the resistance of those members to the group breaking up.

Question 8

What did Festinger say cohesiveness is?

Answer 8

The total field of forces which act of members to remain in the group.

Question 9

According to Carron, what are the two dimensions of cohesion?

Answer 9

1 Group integration - how the individual members of the group feel about the group as a whole.
2 Individual attraction to the group - how attracted the individuals are to the group.

Question 10

What is a practical example of group cohesion?

Answer 10

The South-African rugby union team that won the 1995 World Cup was made up of individuals who has high regard for all other members of the team and who resisted any break-up of the team after the competition finished.

Question 11

What is the equation for Steiner’s model of group effectiveness?

Answer 11

Actual productivity = potential productivity - losses due to faulty processes

Question 12

What is Steiner’s model of group effectiveness?

Answer 12

He proposes that groups fall short of their potential because of process faults. Potential productivity refers to the best possible performance of the group and must take into account the resources available to the group and the abilities of the individual members.

Question 13

In Steiner’s model of group effectiveness, what two factors cause the losses due to process faults?

Answer 13

1 Co-ordination problems - If co-ordination and timing of team members do not match, team strategies that depend of them will suffer, and therefore so will team performance.
2 Motivation problems - If individual members of a team are not motivated to the same extent, they will be ‘pulling in different directions’ and the potential of the team will not be realised.

Question 14

What is a practical example of a lack of motivation causing a loss of potential in a team?

Answer 14

The players of a hockey team may individually have different motives - some may be playing just to be with their friends; others might be playing because they want to win hockey matches.

Question 15

What is the Ringelmann effect?

Answer 15

The Ringelmann effect arises when the average individual performance decreases as the group size increases.

Question 16

What research was completed that proved the Ringelmann effect?

Answer 16

In a rope-pulling task, groups pulled with more force than an individual, but not as much as force as each individual pulling force together - eight people pulled only four times as hard as one, not eight times as hard. This showed that this loss in performance was due to both co-ordination and motivational problems but was mainly caused by individuals within the group losing motivation.

Question 17

What is the definition of social loafing?

Answer 17

When some individuals in a group lose motivation, apparently caused by the individual losing identity when placed in a group. Individual efforts may not be recognised by those who are spectating or by those taking part.

Question 18

What is a practical example of the Ringelmann effect?

Answer 18

A hockey team penalty corner drill continues to break down because the timing of the players involved does not match(losses in performance due to co-ordination fault).

Question 19

If lack of identity in a team is the main cause of social loafing, what should be done?

Answer 19

Strategies should be developed to highlight individual performance. Examples of giving credit to individuals in team situations to make them feel important include ‘tackle counts’ in rugby or the number of ‘assists’ in basketball. Feedback to individuals about performance and support from others in the team can also help to combat social loafing.

Question 20

What effect would peer pressure have on social loafing?

Answer 20

Peer pressure will aid elimination of social loafing and can serve to reinforce individual effort. A team whose players get on well socially will be more cohesive, which also helps to limit social loafing.

Question 21

How would you cut down losses in team performance due to co-ordination?

Answer 21

Individuals should be selected in their interactive skills. Teachers and coaches should also emphasise that good co-ordination will eventually lead to better performance. Games using small teams, for instance, may help to co-ordinate the actions of different sets of players within a team.

Question 22

What are the 4 ways in which goal setting can affect performance?

Answer 22

1 by directing attention.
2 by regulating the amount of effort that is put into a given task.
3 ensuring effort is sustained until the goal is reached.
4 by motivating people in different ways

Question 23

How does directing attention through the use of goal setting affect performance?

Answer 23

Goals can focus performers on what needs to be done to improve performance in sport.

Question 24

How does regulating the amount of effort put in through goal setting affect performance?

Answer 24

This will ensure that there is no wasted effort on activities or movements that are unnecessary.

Question 25

How does ensuring effort is sustained through goal setting affect performance?

Answer 25

Goals motivated performers to continue with their efforts and not give up too easily.

Question 26

How does motivating performers through goal setting affect performance?

Answer 26

Motivating people to develop a variety of strategies to reach their goals in sport. The development of successful tactics and strategies can make all the difference between winning and losing.

Question 27

What is a popular technique used to ensure that goal setting is effective?

Answer 27

SMART goal setting

Question 28

What does SMART goal setting stand for?

Answer 28

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Recorded
Time phased

Question 29

What does specific mean in SMART goal setting?

Answer 29

goals must be clear and specific

Question 30

What does measurable mean in SMART goal setting?

Answer 30

Goals must be assess and therefore need to be measurable. The more specific they are, the ore measurable they are likely to be. Knowing how well you are doing can be motivating and ensures that you remain realistic about future performances.

Question 31

What does achievable mean in SMART goal setting?

Answer 31

Goals that coaches and performers have talked about and shared are more likely to be achieved because all interested parties have a common purpose and the goals set are realistic to the ability of the performer. Goals must be within the reach of the performers so the motivation remains high. If they are too easy, this can be demotivating because the performer may not try as hard.

Question 32

What does recorded mean in SMART goal setting?

Answer 32

Goals that have been agreed should be recorded so that progress can be monitored. As goals are achieved they can be crossed off, thus motivating the performer to press on towards the next goal.

Question 33

What does time phased mean in SMART goal setting?

Answer 33

Goals should be split into short-term goals leading to long-term goals. This step-by-step approach over a period of time ensures that goals remain realistic and achievable.

Question 34

What is the definition of outcome goals?

Answer 34

Goals that are targets directed towards on end result of the activity - for example a goal of wanting to win a netball match.

Question 35

What is the definition of performance goals?

Answer 35

Goals that are directed towards the individual’s end performance - for example, to improve the batting average for a cricketer.

Question 36

What is the definition of process goals?

Answer 36

Goals that are used to improve a skill and are often related to technique - for example, improving a cricketer’s batting technique.

Question 37

How would you help a sports person deal with anxiety over the outcome of reaching a goal set for them?

Answer 37

Personal performance goals may be less stress-inducing than outcome goals and will put the participant in a position of control. Emphasis could shift towards more process-type goals. A move away from outcome goals may make losing bearable and less stressful, thus reducing anxiety. Setting goals such as personal bests can help to focus on performance and process goals.

Question 38

What are the 3 different types of goals?

Answer 38

1 Outcome goals
2 Performance goals
3 Process orientated goals

Question 39

What are outcome goals?

Answer 39

They are related to the end result. Sports people and their instructors often set goals to win or are concerned with the outcome of the competition.

Question 40

What are performance goals?

Answer 40

They are concerned with performance judged against other performers - perhaps a certain time to be achieved in order to better the last time recorded. Performance goals are related to specific behaviours and may effect outcome goals.

Question 41

What are process-orientated goals?

Answer 41

They concentrate on the performer’s technique and tactics - what a performer has to do to be more successful.

Question 42

What is a practical example of a performance goal?

Answer 42

A tennis player is trying to improve his speed of serve by improving his timing.

Question 43

What is a practical example of outcome goals?

Answer 43

A tennis player is trying to win the grand slam by winning each open tournament.

Question 44

How does the factors of long-term and short-term affect goal setting?

Answer 44

Achievement of long-term goals is a progressive process and must start with achieving short-term goals. Many athletes use realistic target dates to help them achieve their short-term goals. Short-term goals provide a greater opportunity for success, which can reinforce positive feelings, and in turn help to control anxiety levels.

Question 45

How does the effectiveness of the goal setting affect it?

Answer 45

For goal setting to be effectiveness, there must be a general breakdown of the overall goals that you want to achieve. For instance, to win the league, the team may have to concentrate on winning more games away from home. For this to b achieved, there may be short-term goals of improving the attacking and/or defending of the team. It can be motivating to split long-term goals into medium-term and short-term goals which are more specific and manageable over a short period of time.

Question 46

How does sharing decision making affect goal setting?

Answer 46

Goals that are set through negotiation and agreement are far more effective than externally set goals. The participant will have a sense of ownership over the goal setting and will be better motivated to achieve. Goal setting is also likely to be fairer and more realistic if all parties involved have an input.