DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE SOCIAL SUPPORT - TEAM BUILDING AND THE SOCIAL SUPPORT PROCESS

Team members who provide each other with several types of social suppo rt (e.g., listening support, reality confirmation support, and task ap preciation support) offer each other the opportunity to increase their physical and emotional well-being. Also, teams that employ strategies to enhance their social support as part of a team-building interventi on are more likely to build a working, achieving, successful organizat ion, one with effective communication and a shared commitment to team goals and a team vision of success. This article presents a rationale for enhancing the development of team social support, describes the so cial support process and a measurement tool based on the characteristi cs of that process, outlines strategies for maintaining and enhancing student-athletes' social support, and concludes with comments regardin g intervention evaluation.