Cultivating Team Dynamics: Enhancing Confidence and Success in Young Athletes

"When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality"

- Joe Paterno (player, athletic director, and head coach)

Introduction

“There’s no ‘I’ in team!!”

Haven’t we all heard that one? And yet, what does it truly mean?

For some, the team is what sport is all about. After all, our student-athletes train, compete, win, and, inevitably, lose – together. Yet the team element is less vital for others, even successful and talented sportsmen and women.

And perhaps it’s no surprise. Teams don’t always bring out the best in everyone. Yet, when each member buys in and shares a collective ambition, there is an opportunity for both the individual and the group to flourish. There is potential for greatness on the track, in the pool, and on the field.

John Wooden–perhaps one of the greatest coaches of all time–said of record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player, Lewis Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar):

“Lewis believed the team came first …his first priority was the success of the team even at the expense of his own statistics.”

So, why does the team matter for individual athletes?

Sports are uncertain. No matter how good our athletes are, they are not always destined to win. They may become injured, be outperformed – or simply not the best on the day.

A team offers protection – a buffer for training and competition lows and the opportunity for shared success.

When our athletes’ confidence takes a battering, and they doubt themselves and their abilities, that shared purpose plus supportive relationships foster strength, optimism, and resilience.

Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton recognized the importance of teamwork in 2018 when he became world champion for an incredible fifth time.

“It really is the teamwork…I’m proud to be a part of that chain that helps me win.”

Whether an athlete running solo for 10,000 meters at a track meet or the starting quarterback in the NFL, there’s a team behind them – visible or not.

 

Crucially, research recognizes that the team benefits of developing group confidence don’t end there – it boosts that same quality in individual athletes.

And science backs it up.

A 2018 study in the International Sport Coaching Journal, including 264 athletes, found that team relationships, a positive environment, and supportive coaching behaviors were confidence-building for the team and the individual.

Understanding the team

Seasoned sports psychologists John Kremer and Aidan Moran have decades of experience between them, having worked with national and international athletes and teams in over 50 sports.

 They recognize the importance of understanding the team and its dynamics and suggest building a team profile based on the following five features:

  1. Interaction:

Does the team communicate effectively? Is dialogue generally positive or negative?

How do its members interact during training, and is it different during competition.

  1. Structure:

How long has the team been together, and what are the roles?

Who is respected, and who is being listened to?

  1. Task cohesion:

Does the team bring out the best in the individual players?

Is there healthy competition within the team?

  1. Social cohesion:

Is the team ‘tight’ off the pitch? Do members socialize together?

Do they respect each other, and are they comfortable around one another?

  1. Goals:

Are there well-defined short, medium, and long-term goals? Does everyone know them?

Is everyone pulling in the same direction? Or are there competing agendas?

 

The answers help us form a team profile. We begin to recognize what is–and isn’t–working.

It’s important to remember that no ‘one size fits all.’ Each team is individual according to its members and must be specific about what success means for them and the sport.

How do we build better, more confident teams?

A cohesive and confident team doesn’t just happen – it needs to be built and maintained from the bottom up.

Building cohesion

According to sports psychologists and mental toughness experts Peter Clough, Doug Strycharczyk, and John Perry, the coach will need to work with the athletes individually and as part of a group, focusing on fostering:

  • A shared sense of purpose
  • Effective ways of working together
  • Personal independence
  • A willingness to train and compete as one
  • A collective identity

It’s essential to involve the team to find an approach each member buys into. You can’t just gift team cohesion or force it on them.

Get them together and involved by asking how they can be most effective as a unit. The following questions will help:

 

What can you do to become more confident and mentally tough?

How can you reduce stress for yourselves and others?

What do you need to become peak performers?

How can you work more effectively together?

How can you commit to growth and making positive changes?

What actions are essential for success?

How and where do we begin?

Clough suggests creating a team charter out of the answers. Perhaps something like this:

We will avoid using foul, abusive, or aggressive language.

We will publicly support the team's decisions.

We will focus on blame when things don’t work out.

We will be on time – all the time.

We will listen to each other when concerns or questions are raised.

It is essential to reach a consensual agreement – everyone needs to buy in for a charter to work.

Building Confidence

Confidence is critical to optimal performance and resilience, yet poor or unhealthy team dynamics can be damaging.

It’s vital that the team and its members:

  • Recognize, use, and acknowledge one another’s abilities.
  • Become aware of overconfidence.
  • Recognize the need for time off and recovery when confidence is knocked.
  • Offer constructive criticism and unwavering support – not beating each other down.
  • Support each member's growth and skill development.
  • Meet regularly to check progress.
  • Seek out help when needed and listen to one another

The following exercise is referred to as the ‘Line of Positivity.’ It helps the team become more aware of the range of confidence among its members and offers future support to individuals and the group.

Step one:

Ask the team members to line up in order according to their perception of how positive and confident they are. It can take a while – patience and considerable discussion may be needed.

Ultimately, the act of putting themselves in order, along with the discussions involved, will be enlightening to all.

If it becomes heated, then pause and refer those involved back to their charter.

Step two:

Each member writes down three positive affirmation statements that support their personal and the team’s growth and confidence.

For example

"My contribution is valuable and unique to our team's success" – recognizes the individual's unique skills and their importance to the team.

"Together, we overcome challenges and grow stronger" – highlights the collective strength and resilience of the team.

"I am open to learning from both successes and setbacks" – encourages a growth mindset, acknowledging that learning is a continuous process.

"I trust in my abilities and the strength of my team" – builds individual confidence while reinforcing trust in the team.

"I listen to and respect the perspectives of my teammates" – promotes a healthy and respectful team dynamic.

"I celebrate my achievements and the successes of my teammates" – fosters a culture of recognition and shared joy in accomplishments.

Step three:

 Each member is allocated two teammates and creates three appropriate positive self-affirmation statements. They are collated and given to each team member.

Why it works!!

The benefit of this exercise is that it combines two scientifically proven strategies for building confidence – social support and positive self-talk.

The importance of being a team player

Some athletes are more comfortable in a highly visible team environment, while others choose sports that allow them to compete individually.

For the former, the collective drive channels their energy toward success, while the latter prefers focusing on individual focus and mastery.

 Either way, the athlete exists within a group, whether that includes a coach, fellow competitors, team captain, or even supporters – such as family, friends, and fellow students.

 If the team is supportive, the individual’s burden of failure can be lightened.

A final word on the importance of team dynamics

As the former coach of the Chicago Bulls basketball team, Phil Jackson said,

“Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the ‘me’ for the ‘we’.”

Helping our athletes recognize the benefits of positive, supportive, and goal-led team dynamics will boost their confidence and their performance – along with that of their team.

As a parent or a coach, we can help our high school and college student-athletes by encouraging them to step back from their individual needs, concerns, and obstacles and recognize the power of the team.