Team building is the process of improving how well a sports team functions together by focusing on problem solving, role understanding, interpersonal relations, and goal setting (Martin & Bruner, 2019). It is an activity intended to improve the thinking, feeling, and behaviors for individual athletes, and the general functioning of a team (Martin & Bruner, 2019).
The positive and moderate effects of TB on athlete cognitions, group cohesion, and team performance have been demonstrated in a study by Martin, Carron, and Burke (2009) with TB exercises lasting longer than 20 weeks and utilizing goal-setting being found to have the strongest impact.
Foundational studies credited with shaping the TB literature predominantly investigated the topic of cohesion, which overlooked other potential TB approaches (e.g., goal setting, personal disclosure/mutual sharing), and limited the understanding of the theoretical and practical implications that TB may hold for enhancing athlete and team outcomes (Bruner et al., 2013).
Bruner, M. W., Eys, M. A., Beauchamp, M. R., & Coˆte ́, J. (2013). Examining the origins of team building in sport: A citation network and genealogical approach. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 17, 3042.
Klein, C., DiazGranados, D., Salas, E., Le, H., Burke, C. S., Lyons, R., & Goodwin, G. F. (2009). Does team-building work?. Small Group Research, 40, 181222.
Martin, L. J., & Bruner, M. W. (2019). In D. Hackfort, R. J. Schinke, & B. Strauss (Eds.), Dictionary of sport psychology: Sport, exercise, and performing arts. Academic Press.
Martin, L. J., Carron, A. V., & Burke, S. M. (2009). Team building interventions in sport: A meta-analysis. Sport & Exercise Psychology Review, 5, 318.
