A Study of the Relationship between Team Cohesion, Role Ambiguity and Athletic Performance in Football Team Players

摘要

The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between team cohesion, role ambiguity and athletic performance of football players. To this end, 247 players from 14 randomly selected football teams competing in the 2005 IRIB national summer league constituted the sample of the study. Data collection tools included the Team Cohesion Scale, Role Ambiguity Scale and Football Players` Performance Checklist. Results of the study revealed that a significant positive relationship exists between lack of ambiguity in athletic defense position and lack of ambiguity in athletic offence position (r = 0.77), between lack of ambiguity in athletic defense position and team cohesion (r = 0.33), lack of ambiguity in athletic offence position and team cohesion (r = 0.34), lack of ambiguity in athletic offence position and athletic performance (r = 0.42) and between team cohesion and athletic performance (r = 0.23). Findings also revealed a significant difference between champions and non-champions in terms of team cohesion, role ambiguity and athletic performance, with higher mean scores noted for champion athletes. Furthermore, multivariate relationships were observed between team cohesion, role ambiguity and athletic performance (p< 0.05).