Cohesion Team Mental Models and Collective Efficacy

A nomological network on team dynamics in sports consisting of a multi-framework perspective is introduced. The aim was to explore the interrelationship among cohesion team mental models (TMM), collective-efficacy (CE) and perceived performance potential (PPP). A secondary aim was to assess intra and inter team variability among these team level properties. Three hundred and forty college soccer players of both genders (178 female, 52.4%; and 162 male 47.6%) and representing 17 different teams (n = 8 female and 9 male) affiliated to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) agreed to participate in the study. The participants were 20.38 years old on average (SD = 2.12) and had 14.66 years (SD = 3.92) of experience in the sport. They responded to surveys on team cohesion (i.e., The Group Environment Questionnaire), TMM (i.e., Team Assessment Diagnostic Measure), CE (i.e., Collective Efficacy Questionnaire for Sports) and PPP (i.e., Team Outcome Questionnaire). Descriptive and structural equation modeling analyses indicated that cohesion, TMM and CE are conceptually and statistically interrelated constructs. Specifically, cohesion was found to be an exogenous variable predicting both TMM and CE beliefs. These former team attributes were found to predict PPP which in turn accounted for approximately 60% of the variance of objective performance scores as measured by teams' season record. Altogether, findings of this study are congruent with the theoretical feasibility and statistical validity of an integrated view of team dynamics in sports. Applied implications involve the development of evidence-based protocols to enhance team PPP as related to cohesion, TMM and CE beliefs.