A Holistic Analysis of Team Dynamics Using Relational Coordination as the Measure regarding Student Athlete Total Load: A Cross-Sectional Study
- PMID: 37234060
- PMCID: PMC10223519
- DOI: 10.3390/sports11050104
A Holistic Analysis of Team Dynamics Using Relational Coordination as the Measure regarding Student Athlete Total Load: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Background: Despite its small population, Norway wins a disproportionately large number of medals in international competitions. Therefore, it has been thought that the Norwegian sports model and sports school programs are influential in developing young Norwegian athletes to achieve such results. Today, more than 110 Norwegian private and public schools offer the elite sports program in Norway. Most student athletes attending those schools combine their high school education with elite sports, where they attend training sessions at both school and clubs. The number of people involved with the student athlete on a daily basis (i.e., other student athletes, club coaches, school coaches, schoolteachers, parents, and health personnel) indicate the importance of optimal communication and coordination. However, to the authors' knowledge, no previous studies have explored communication and coordination among this population group. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to use a holistic analysis of team dynamics using the Relational Coordination Survey as a measure to explore the relational coordination within and between student athletes, club coaches, and school coaches. A secondary objective of this study was to explore student athletes', club coaches', and school coaches' relational coordination with schoolteachers, parents, and health personnel. In addition, the study aimed to explore differences in student athletes' relational coordination with their significant others according to sport, school, performance level, sex, and school year.
Methods: The quality of relational coordination was measured by a cross-sectional questionnaire of student athletes (n = 345), club coaches (n = 42), and school coaches (n = 25) concerning training load and life load. Multiple one-way analyses of variance were used to assess differences between groups.
Results: The results show that student athletes, club coaches, and school coaches perceived moderate to weak relational coordination with parents, schoolteachers, and health personnel. Student athletes' relational coordination score with parents was the only strong score observed. Furthermore, the results reveal notable differences in student athletes' relational coordination with the roles according to their characteristics.
Conclusions: The findings suggest a potential for enhancing relationships and communication within and between the significant roles involved with student athletes. The results further indicate that those involved with the student athlete should consider a holistic approach to enhance communication and coordination, including physical, psychological, and other life factors, for optimal student athlete management and development. More resources are necessary to facilitate effective communication and coordination regarding the student athlete's total load.
Keywords: relational coordination; student athlete management; student athlete wellbeing.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Figures
![Figure 1](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/10223519/bin/sports-11-00104-g001.gif)
![Figure 2](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/10223519/bin/sports-11-00104-g002.gif)
![Figure 3](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/10223519/bin/sports-11-00104-g003.gif)
![Figure 4](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/10223519/bin/sports-11-00104-g004.gif)
Similar articles
-
A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Case Study Investigation of the Academic, Athletic, Psychosocial and Psychological Impacts of Being a Sport School Student Athlete.Sports Med. 2024 Apr 18. doi: 10.1007/s40279-024-02021-4. Online ahead of print. Sports Med. 2024. PMID: 38635007
-
A Comparison of Team Sport Volume Surveyed Between High School and Club Sport Coaches.Orthop J Sports Med. 2019 Apr 8;7(4):2325967119836484. doi: 10.1177/2325967119836484. eCollection 2019 Apr. Orthop J Sports Med. 2019. PMID: 31001566 Free PMC article.
-
Youth and high school sports coaches' experience with and attitudes about concussion and access to athletic trainers by sport type and age of athlete coached.J Safety Res. 2019 Jun;69:217-225. doi: 10.1016/j.jsr.2019.01.005. Epub 2019 Mar 1. J Safety Res. 2019. PMID: 31235231 Free PMC article.
-
Mental Health in Elite Coaches.Sports Health. 2024 Jan 21:19417381231223472. doi: 10.1177/19417381231223472. Online ahead of print. Sports Health. 2024. PMID: 38246889 Review.
-
Position stand on androgen and human growth hormone use.J Strength Cond Res. 2009 Aug;23(5 Suppl):S1-S59. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31819df2e6. J Strength Cond Res. 2009. PMID: 19620932 Review.
References
-
- Nevill-Manning C. Medals per Capita: Olympic Glory in Proportion. [(accessed on 2 February 2023)]. Available online: https://www.medalspercapita.com/#medals:2022.
-
- Andersen S.S., Ronglan L.T. Same ambitions—Different tracks: A comparative perspective on Nordic elite sport. Manag. Leis. 2012;17:155–169. doi: 10.1080/13606719.2012.674392. - DOI
-
- Hanstad D.V., Skille E.Å. Does elite sport develop mass sport?: A Norwegian case study. Scand. Sport Stud. Forum. 2010;1:51–68.
-
- Tjelta L.I. Three Norwegian brothers all European 1500 m champions: What is the secret? Int. J. Sport. Sci. Coach. 2019;14:694–700. doi: 10.1177/1747954119872321. - DOI
-
- Henriksen K., Stambulova N., Roessler K.K. Riding the wave of an expert: A successful talent development environment in kayaking. Sport Psychol. 2011;25:341. doi: 10.1123/tsp.25.3.341. - DOI
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources