Teamwork in Team Debriefings: Coaches' Communication Patterns After Wins and Losses


DURDUBAŞ D., Sezer U.

SPORT EXERCISE AND PERFORMANCE PSYCHOLOGY, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier

Özet

This study aimed to test the difference in coaches' teamwork-focused behavioral patterns in team debriefings following wins and losses. Seven male coaches (Mage = 41.91, SD = 6.4) from elite basketball, volleyball, and soccer teams were recorded and their behaviors were coded during 18 team debriefings (M = 55.98 +/- 26.49 min) held after nine win and nine loss games. Coaches' behaviors were coded through a novel teamwork coding scheme developed for the present study. Behavioral rates, relative durations, and lag sequential analysis were used to identify behavioral patterns and significant differences. The findings showed that coaches displayed performance monitoring and problem-solving-focused teamwork behaviors for an extended period following wins. In addition, rates of systems monitoring behaviors were significantly higher in loss conditions. Coaches were more inclined to use feedback, opponent analysis, and data presentation with performance monitoring following losses, while questions and instructions were preferred with problem-solving behaviors. Lag sequential analysis revealed that coaches followed a significant pattern of performance monitoring, problem solving, and planning behaviors. The findings suggest that game outcomes could affect coaches' teamwork-focused behaviors and communication strategies of these behaviors in team debriefings. Furthermore, the study highlighted the importance of teamwork in team debriefings, which provides a better understanding of effective debriefing practices and future research directions in sports.