Abstract
Group norms have been identified as important in the functioning of sport teams (Munroe, Estabrooks, Dennis, & Carron, 1999). However, minimal research has delved into the underlying mechanisms shaping these norms. State space grids (SSG: Lewis, Lamey, & Douglas, 1999) are a novel systems-based method for analysing coach-athlete interactions (C-AI), which may influence norms within sport teams. The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between team norms and C-AI. Seventeen female athletes (M age = 15 yrs) from two competitive synchronized swimming teams completed a survey assessing practice and social norms (Carron, Prapavessis & Estabrooks, 1999). Quantitative measures of observed C-AI during practice were then derived using SSG analysis. Discriminate function analysis (DFA) revealed that perceptions of norms significantly discriminated athletes between the teams, Wilks' Lambda=.449, p<.05. Four follow-up regressions used observed C-AI to predict each of the discriminative norms. Results revealed that practice attendance norms were predicted by coach corrective feedback, social attendance norms were predicted by non-sport related C-A discussion, and social interaction norms were predicted by sport-related C-A discussion. Concentration during practice norms were not predicted by any C-AI measures. Results of this exploratory study provide evidence linking C-AI with perceptions of team norms. The findings also point to the complexity of this relationship.
