“I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.” ~~ Mia Hamn

Team cohesion, motivation and the types of motivation used to promote the “team” concept are paramount in being successful as individuals and as a team.

Cohesion is a dynamic property reflecting members’ perceptions of the unity and personal attractions to task and objectives of the group. Depending on the types of motivational strategies a coach utilizes, they can maximize team and individual athletic performance, and by doing so can promote team cohesion, overall team climate, and even goal setting.

Why is team Cohesion Important?

Every football psychologist will agree that team performance gets better as the team unity gets better because it combines the strength and intelligence of all the players.

Team cohesion is when all the team players act as one unit with one common goal, supporting each other throughout the game to reach their maximum potential.

They provide an individual commitment to a group effort, making their team more efficient on the field.

Not only is this motivating by receiving support but it also enhances one’s mental toughness through team building exercises. These exercises allow you to develop more effective communication with your team and improve social and task cohesion.

By improving on these, you are directly improving your football confidence because you have the support of everyone else and you are assured that you can rely on your teammates.

It’s very easy to lack confidence to play when you feel like the pressure is all on your shoulders, but when you take part in team efforts you share the pressure, and it doesn’t feel so heavy anymore.

Another apparent reason for team cohesion in sports is when players learn to trust each other and create a bond; they are more likely to be motivated to play well on the field rather than when playing with people they don’t have an obligation to.

How will it make you win Championships?

As mentioned above, creating a bond with each other is essential to the overall performance, mainly because it eliminates selfishness.

Many great players went off track because they were only focused on their success and pride. They faced situations that required teamwork but refused to do the best play because they wanted the limelight.

It is crucial to remember football is a group effort and individuality will never work. Your football mental game will improve dramatically when you bond with your teammates.

With this level of cohesion, there will be less conflict and more support.

What would happen if team cohesion was not incorporated into your performance?

Well, you wouldn’t necessarily lose, but your chances of winning would decrease. The reason is that, if individuals are going about strategies their own way instead of focusing on one common goal of the team, the team will never succeed in reaching the goal – Championships.

You can only succeed with the support of other teammates. It may also hurt your mental game because team communication will be less effective, leaving you stranded when faced with a tough situation and no one to rely on.

*Download the free mental game assessment and get started on improving your Mental Game in Football.