Abstract

One of the most widely examined group concepts in sport science research has been group cohesion. Numerous analyses of team performance by athletes, coaches, the news media, and sport psychologists mention that team cohesion is in some way a cause or a by-product of team performance. It is also one of the most examined small group variables in sport group dynamics. Motivation for much of this research was not only to understand group cohesion, but more practically, to determine the extent of its impact on group performance. There are a number of excellent reviews that discuss cohesion in the context of sport groups (e.g., Carron 1988; Gill, 1977; Widmeyer, Carron Brawley, 1985). The present article examines issues that are considered to be critical if progress is to be made in sport cohesion research. This discussion necessarily repeats some of what has been said before in order to make specific points. However, part of the purpose of the article is to suggest alternatives to what has been the main focus of cohesion research in sport (i.e., competition outcome and its relation to team cohesion). In order to suggest alternatives to what has been sport sciences focus on cohesion, it is necessary to understand what is known about the cohesion of physical activity groups. The following discussion only represents a summary of most common findings in order to give the reader perspective. Much greater detail can be found in the chapters and reviews mentioned above. Verf.-Referat (gekuerzt)