Relationship Between Team Cohesion And Sports Performance Among Basketball Teams In The 2010 National League In Kenya

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate team cohesion among basketball players in the National Classic League in Kenya. The study intended to establish the differences in social and task cohesion in the teams, teams‟ cohesiveness and the win-loss records, and gender differences in the teams and the teams‟ size and their degree of social and task cohesion. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population comprised 180 players derived from teams in the 2010 National Classic League Season. A stratified random sampling procedure was used in the study to select respondents based on gender. Six players were sampled from each team to make a sample of 130 (72%). A self-administered questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using the descriptive statistics and other data were analyzed and tabulated into simple frequencies and percentages and presented in the form of graphs and pie charts. ANOVA was used to test research hypotheses (Ho1), Kruskal Wallis for research hypotheses (Ho2), and Spearman‟s Correlation of Coefficient for research hypothesis (Ho3). The conclusions drawn suggested that social cohesion was managed well with smaller groups of players, policy engaging the players be formulated to improve sports participation, further research be done in other sports areas to investigate social and team cohesion. Other variables to be investigated in relation to cohesion include coach‟s style of leadership, motivation and ethnic affiliation. Studies can also be done at lower levels of basketball game like in universities and middle level colleges.