Assessing the Relationship Between Pre- and Post-Game Interpersonal Emotions in Women’s Football Teams
A summary of the research:
This study explores the relationship between pre-game and post-game interpersonal emotions in women’s football teams. Researchers examined how collective emotions (shared feelings within a team) and group-based emotions (an individual’s emotions about their team) interact before and after matches. The study tracked 47 female university-level football players across three consecutive matches, using a sport emotion questionnaire. Findings revealed that pre-game collective emotions strongly influenced post-game group-based emotions, particularly for negative emotions. Additionally, perfectionism towards teammates was linked to pre-game emotional states, with players who set high expectations for their teammates experiencing stronger emotional reactions.
The results suggest that emotions in women’s football teams are highly interconnected, with team-wide emotional states before a match shaping how individuals feel afterward. Interestingly, negative emotions were more likely to persist across match phases, while positive emotions were more stable over time. The study highlights the importance of managing team emotions proactively, as early collective emotions can predict later emotional responses, potentially affecting team cohesion and performance.
Key Takeaways:
Manage Pre-Game Team Emotions – Since pre-game collective emotions influence post-game individual feelings, coaches should create a positive pre-match environment through motivational talks, team bonding, and stress-reducing activities.
Address Perfectionism in Team Culture – Players who hold excessively high expectations for their teammates tend to experience stronger emotional reactions. Educating players on constructive goal-setting and fostering a supportive atmosphere can help manage these emotional pressures.
Monitor and Regulate Negative Emotions – Negative emotions tend to persist from pre- to post-game, impacting team morale. Implementing post-game reflection sessions and emotional regulation strategies (such as mindfulness or guided discussions) can help prevent negativity from carrying over into future performances.
Authors: James L. Rumbold, Kelsey-Lee Oliver, Daniel J. Madigan, James A. Newman, Jennifer A. Hobson, and Andrew J. Higham
You can read the entire article here.
