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The Power of Groups in Youth Sport

1st Edition - February 15, 2020

Editors: Mark W. Bruner, Mark A. Eys, Luc J. Martin

Paperback ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 1 6 3 3 6 - 8

eBook ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 1 7 2 6 2 - 9

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… Read more

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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.

Mark W. Bruner

Mark Bruner - Canada Research Chair in Youth Development through Sport and Physical Activity; Professor in the School of Physical and Health Education at Nipissing University. Dr. Bruner’s research program investigates group dynamics and psychosocial development in youth sport and physical activity settings. He has published research in leading journals in group dynamics (e.g.Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice) sport and exercise psychology (e.g. Psychology of Sport and Exercise) and adolescence (e.g. Journal of Youth and Adolescence). Dr. Bruner has served as a sport psychology consultant with elite youth and university sport teams and is a learning facilitator for the Coaching Association of Canada.

Affiliations and expertise

School of Physical and Health Education, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada

Mark A. Eys

Mark Eys - Professor, Department of Kinesiology/Physical Education and Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, a former Canada Research Chair (2009-2019) and currently holds a Laurier Research Chair in Group Dynamics and Physical Activity. His current research interests include role perceptions in interactive groups, the measurement and correlates of cohesion, and the use of social influence to affect exercise behavior. Dr. Eys has published over 100 academic journal articles, 26 chapters, and two books including Group Dynamics in Sport (4th edition; co-authored), and Group Dynamics in Exercise and Sport Psychology (2nd edition; co-edited).

Affiliations and expertise

Departments of Kinesiology/Physical Education and Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada

Luc J. Martin

Luc Martin - Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen’s University. Dr. Martin’s research interests lie in the general area of team dynamics, with a specific focus on topics such as cohesion, social identity, team building, and subgroups/cliques. Although much of his research resides in the context of sport, he is also interested in other high performance groups such as military and surgical teams. He serves on the editorial boards for several top sport psychology journals (e.g., Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology) and has consulting experience with athletes and teams ranging from developmental to elite levels of competition.

Affiliations and expertise

School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada