Team Psychology in Sports ─ Theory and Practice

The ability to mould a group of talented individual athletes into an effective team takes effort and skill. Team Psychology in Sports examines the crucial factors in the development of an effective team, introducing important psychological and organizational concepts and offering evidence-based interventions for enhancing the performance of any sports team.

The book neatly bridges the gap between theory and practice, with real sporting case studies, examples and practical tools included in each chapter. It covers the full range of issues in team sport, including:



planning


communication


cohesion


motivation


emotions


momentum


leadership


recovery.


No other book offers such an up-to-date, relevant and applied guide to working with sports teams. It is essential reading for all students and practitioners working in sport psychology or sports coaching.

Stewart Cotterill is a Research and Teaching Fellow at the University of Winchester, UK. He is also a registered sport and exercise psychologist in the UK, running his own performance psychology consultancy business, Performance Mind. He has experience of working in professional soccer, rugby union, cricket and basketball, amongst other sports. His specific research interests include the psychological factors impacting upon team performance, preparation to perform and performance psychology.

PREFACE Chapter One. Introduction Chapter Two. Team planning and effectiveness Chapter Three. Developing a positive team environment Chapter Four. Role clarity and role acceptance Chapter Five. Developing effective team communication Chapter Six. Cohesion in sport Chapter Seven. Motivating the team Chapter Eight. Managing emotions in team sports Chapter Nine. Momentum in sport Chapter Ten. Effective team leadership Chapter Eleven. Mental and Emotional Recovery