Team building in sport: Linking theory and research to practical application

This article provides a general overview and presents various effective methods for developing and implementing team building programs based on different desired outcomes in sport. Specifically, a background on team building is provided, followed by the presentation of different outcomes and benefits found in previous successful team building programs. A team building conceptual model (Carron & Spink, 1993) and a four-stage approach (Carron & Spink, 1993) are described. In addition, implementation and effectiveness of various interventions are discussed based on the recommendations from a number of researchers (e.g., Eys, Patterson, Loughead, & Carron, 2006). Finally, implications for practice are discussed.