Variation in perceived collective efficacy among adolescent basketball players across 4-month competitive season.

A team shared belief in its capability to organize and execute some actions required to achieve given performance level is referred as collective efficacy. Collective efficacy in sports appears to be dependent on the interactions and organized dynamics between the players within the team, their competences, including physical competence, organization, structure and strategies. It is directly related to team performance potential. In the present study we examined the changes of perceived collective efficacy among young basketball players and 10 to 17 years across a 4-month competitive season, accounting for variation by age group since youth sports are generally organized by competitive age groups. Based on the repeated measures across 4 months in the range of age observed, we explored the trends of perceived collective efficacy among this sample players. Sixty-five adolescent male basketball players aged 13,7 (9,5 to 17,3) years at baseline were considered. Collective Efficacy Questionnaire for Sports (CEQS) was used to assess players´ perception of collective efficacy. The adolescent basketball players had high CEQS scores. Except for persistence, all CEQS factors did not vary by age group. However, no distinct trend of differences between age group was present. The CEQS factors remained high after 4-months competitive season exposure, except for ability where there was a systematic decrease for players scores at end-season. A negative trend of change was apparent for persistence, preparation and unity as players were closer to late adolescence years. The results in this study highlight the importance for coaches and practitioners to consider environment and context influence on young basketball players´ collective efficacy perception. A team shared belief in its capability to organize and execute some actions required to achieve given performance level is referred as collective efficacy. Collective efficacy in sports appears to be dependent on the interactions and organized dynamics between the players within the team, their competences, including physical competence, organization, structure and strategies. It is directly related to team performance potential. In the present study we examined the changes of perceived collective efficacy among young basketball players and 10 to 17 years across a 4-month competitive season, accounting for variation by age group since youth sports are generally organized by competitive age groups. Based on the repeated measures across 4 months in the range of age observed, we explored the trends of perceived collective efficacy among this sample players. Sixty-five adolescent male basketball players aged 13,7 (9,5 to 17,3) years at baseline were considered. Collective Efficacy Questionnaire for Sports (CEQS) was used to assess players´ perception of collective efficacy. The adolescent basketball players had high CEQS scores. Except for persistence, all CEQS factors did not vary by age group. However, no distinct trend of differences between age group was present. The CEQS factors remained high after 4-months competitive season exposure, except for ability where there was a systematic decrease for players scores at end-season. A negative trend of change was apparent for persistence, preparation and unity as players were closer to late adolescence years. The results in this study highlight the importance for coaches and practitioners to consider environment and context influence on young basketball players´ collective efficacy perception.