How do female athletes perceive conflict in sport? Sport psychologist and professor, Dr. Nick Holt of the University of Alberta explains how to avoid conflict on teams from escalating, getting out of control and how to build a team that's strong when conflicts do occur.

1. Female Athletes’ Perceptions of Conflict in Sport Nick Holt Associate Professor Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation **Camilla Knight & Peter Zukiwski**

2. Objectives Present study of conflict in team sport Focus on practical applications

3. Rationale and Purpose ‘My” Questions Do we really know about conflicts that happen? What types of conflicts take place? How can conflicts be resolved? Purpose To examine how female varsity athletes deal with teammate conflicts.

4. Method Participants 19 female varsity athletes (M age = 21.17 years) Individual Interviews Trained researchers Anonymity and confidentiality Analysis Interviews transcribed Coded to identify: (a) Types of conflict (b) Conflict management strategies

5. Conflicts Happen! “I guess it just sucks but it's [conflict] always gonna happen” “You’re never gonna be able to prevent having any conflict” “I don’t think you’ll ever have a season without conflict” “During girls’ sports it’s like there’s always gonna be conflicts because people’s emotions get involved” “Girls are way worse than boys…. Girls specifically do crave it [conflict]. There are girls on my team that will go looking for trouble sometimes.”

6. Types of Conflicts Performance Relationships Relationship conflicts are very hard to resolve. Performance conflicts are just you as an athlete, it’s not you as a person. Um, when you’re dealing with people as a person… their flaws are being exposed and people don’t like their flaws being exposed. It’s very uncomfortable and it’s very hard to do it in a way that’s, that you’re not criticizing them as a person.

7. Conflict Management I Team Building Early in Season Not prevention Create ‘context’ Address conflicts early

8. Conflict Management II Mediation Hierarchy with team Rarely go to coaches with relationships conflict Role of sport psychologist

9. Conflict Management III Structured Team Meetings Unstructured =BAD Process (and mediator) in place Rap sessions Written statements 24/48 ‘rule’ Maybe not coach-led?

10. So What? Assume conflicts are happening, even if you don’t know about them! Put measures in place to help manage relationship conflicts (team building, mediators, structured meetings) Teach athletes conflict management skills (Handout).