Main description:

Focused on understanding the key underlying group processes that contribute to youth sport experiences, The Power of Groups in Youth Sport provides an innovative and expansive overview of the research in group dynamics within youth sports. The first section of the book examines topics relating to forming and structuring groups, including team selection, athlete socialization, normative expectations, roles, coach and athlete leadership, social identity, and more. The second section reviews concepts associated with group functioning and management, such as cohesion, subgroups, motivational climate, teamwork, and team building. This book concludes with a series of chapters focused on specific developmental considerations in youth sports that are often overlooked in group dynamics research including parental involvement, bullying and hazing, mental health, ,and disability and accessibility.

Contents:

I Creating and Structuring the Team

1. Group Formation--Team Member Selection and Socialization

Mark W. Bruner, Luc J. Martin, Mark A. Eys, Colin McLaren

2. Group Norms in Youth Sport

Alyson J. Crozier, Alex J. Benson

3. Role Involvement in Youth Sport Teams

Mark Eys, Michael Godfrey, Jeemin Kim

4. Coaching Behaviors and Team Constructs in Youth Sport: A Transformational Leadership Perspective

Sarah Lawrason, Jennifer Turnnidge, Jean Cote

5. Athlete Leadership in Youth Sport

Todd M. Loughead, Katherine E. Hirsch, Matthieu M. Boisvert, Christopher Maechel

6. A Social Identity Approach to Enhancing Youth Development and Sport Participation

Mark W. Bruner, Jordan Sutcliffe, Jordan Herbison, Luc J. Martin

II Group Functioning and Management

7. Come Together: Cohesion in Youth Sport

Kevin S. Spink

8. Subgroups in the Context of Youth Sport

Luc J. Martin, Cailie McGuire, Madison Robertson, Kelsey Saizew

9. Motivational Climate in Youth Sport Groups

Chris G. Harwood, Sam N. Thrower

10. Team Building in Youth Sport

Lea-Cathrin Dohme, Jordan S. Lefebvre, Gordon A. Bloom

11. Teamwork in Youth Sport

Desmond McEwan, Mark R. Beauchamp

12. Organizational Culture and Group Dynamics in Yout Sport

III Developmental Considerations

13. Peer Influence and Youth Development

Karl Erickson, Emily Wright, Jill Kochanek, Matthew Vierimaa

14. Parent Involvement in Youth Sport: Developmental Considerations Regarding Children, Adolescents, and Emerging Adults

Travis E. Dorsch, Sam N. Thrower, Katie Lowe

15. Bullying in Youth Sports Environments

Samuel Kim, Wendy Craig

16. Group Dynamics and Mental Health in Organized Youth Sports

Stewart A. Vella, Sarah K. Liddle, Matthew Vierimaa, M. Blair Evans

17. Peers and Groups in Disability Sport

M. Blair Evans, Scott Graupensperger, Kelly P. Arbour-Nicitopoulos

18. Conclusion: Developmental Considerations and Future Directions