Unity in Motion: Student-Athletes' Perspectives on Integrating Team Building and Cohesion Prior to Playing Team Sports
Open Access
Journal Type:Research/Technical Note
Subject:Education
Subject Field:Education Journal
Volume:150, Issue: 1, June, 2024
Publish Date:10 June 2024 12:00 am
Pages:711-720
Download:633
Views:633
Abstract
The study endeavoured to uncover the perspectives of student-athletes on the integration of team building and cohesion prior to playing team sports at one of the universities in the Davao Region. This qualitative research utilized a phenomenological approach, specifically a descriptive method. Further, this study is anchored on the constructivism theory of Jean Piaget. Constructivism has multiple roots in the psychology and philosophy of this century: perceive the world as individuals. In the context of this study, constructivism theory could be utilized for this study by encouraging students to actively engage in activities and to reflect on their individual experiences in playing team sports. The study included twelve participants who were purposely selected for in-depth interviews. Data were collected in an online interview using the Google Meet application and audio recording software. Based on the thematic analysis performed, the following findings were drawn: two emergent themes: enhancing individuals to meaningful experiences and fostering a supportive social environment. Finally, it is highly recommended to integrate team building and cohesion into any institution that plays team sports. This provides opportunities for student-athletes: to foster a strong sense of unity and team chemistry to give student-athletes the chance to develop self-awareness and comprehend the cultural and behavioural differences among team members and to help resolve interpersonal and task-related issues that may hinder team performance, ultimately leading to an overall positive team performance.