Building a Successful Team Climate
One of the major challenges of sports coaching is the ability to bring a team together as a collective group and in doing so, enhancing each athletes self-worth.

This article lists ten traits of an effective team: appropriate leadership, suitable membership, commitment to the team, concern to achieve, effective work methods, well-organized team procedures, positive feedback without confrontation, creative strength, positive intergroup relations and a constructive climate.

Autonomy - the opportunity for the athlete to function independently of the group leader, and is able to make decisions on his/her own.

Emotional Support - the greatest need that an athlete requires from their fellow teammates and coach is emotional support. Emotional support is most needed when the athlete is performing poorly. If this support is lacking, then the team climate will be affected negatively, as players will feel abandoned and distant from the group.

Pressure - can create a team environment where the athletes are scared of making a mistake or cause athletes to go beyond their means to defeat a superior opponent.

Coach's Recognition - an athletic effort, improvement and performance are directly related to the athlete's self-confidence, responsibility and team worth. This in turn fosters a supportive and constructive team climate.

Trust - is important for developing a positive team climate. Coaches should explain to athletes that they trust the athletes' judgements.

Fairness - an effective team climate must be based on the athlete's perception of "fair."

Innovation - allows the athlete to feel that the team or play is his or his own. It promotes creativity and allows for the team individual flair to be shown (as long as it is not detrimental to the overall team goal).

Cohesion - a measure of a person's attraction to, sense of belonging to, and desire to remain a part of the group.


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