Smith, J. (2015). How to Achieve Team Cohesion through Competition in Sport: An Organizational Model. The Sport Journal. http://dx.doi.org/10.17682/sportjournal/2015.023

A point that stands out when looking into the concept of team sports and how a group of athletes bond together as a team, is the role that instruction plays. When the students, or in this case athletes, are provided with specialized instruction for their particular position it improves tea, performance and overall group cohesion. The article discusses this in a football context with task originated positions and competitive scrimmages, however I think that the overall framework can be taken and applied outside of sports. When we are coordinated as a group it spurs on the competitive spirit and works to discourage “social loafing”. This is evident in our classroom and when students don’t feel cohesive as a group, they’re more likely to “piggyback” off their peers. However with a one-tier-down coaching of educational approach, the students are given specialized instruction, personalized positive interactions, and guidance towards coordination as a group. While one-on-one education isn’t quite what we are discussing here, but what is shown is the role that personalized learning plays in relation to teamwork and building a positive competitive spirit.