TR
EN
Effective Communication as a Mediator between Leadership and Team Cohesion in Football Teams
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between leadership characteristics, communication skills, and team unity among football team captains. It also investigates the mediating effect of effective communication on the relationship between leadership and team unity . The study involved football players (n = 324) from 19 teams in the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) 2nd League. “Leadership for Sport Scale (LSS)”, “Team Cohesion Inventory” and “Effective Communication Scale in Team Sports” were used to collect the data. In the research, frequency, Cronbach Alpha reliability analysis, Anova, Pearson correlation and regression analysis methods such as frequency, Cronbach Alpha reliability analysis, correlated mediation effect method were used by Andrew F. Hayes using Process v4.2 software. Analysis results showed that athletes' perceptions of leadership, communication, and team unity varied based on certain demographic characteristics. Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between leadership in sports and both effective communication and team unity . Finally, effective communication was found to mediate the relationship between leadership and team unity . Effective communication plays a crucial role in connecting team captains’ leadership characteristics with team unity . Additionally, the development of effective communication and team unity is directly related to the presence of an effective leader. In conclusion, communication skills significantly contribute to team captains' perceptions of leadership style and team unity.
Keywords
Ethical Statement
Ethical Approval Information
Ethics Review Board: Republic of Turkey, Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee
Date of Ethics Approval Document: 21.05.2021
Approval Number: 111
References
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- Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational leadership (2nd ed.). Psychology Press.
- Bayrak, E., & Nacar, E. (2015). Investigation of communication skill levels of coaches working in professional team sports. Journal of Academic Social Research, 3(14), 391-405. https://doi.org/10.16992/ASOS.718
- Bedir, D., Agduman, F., Bedir, F., & Erhan, S. E. (2023). The mediator role of communication skill in the relationship between empathy, team cohesion, and competition performance in curlers. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1115402. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1115402
- Callow, N., Smith, M. J., Hardy, L., Arthur, C. A., & Hardy, J. (2009). Measurement of transformational leadership and its relationship with team cohesion and performance level. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 21(4), 395–412. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200903204754
- Carron, A., Widmeyer, W., & Brawley, L. (1985). The development of an instrument to assess cohesion in sport teams: The Group Environment Questionnaire. Journal of Sport Psychology, 7(3), 244-266. https://doi.org/10.1123/JSP.7.3.244
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Sports Activity Management
Journal Section
Research Article
Early Pub Date
September 26, 2025
Publication Date
September 28, 2025
Submission Date
May 17, 2025
Acceptance Date
September 2, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 8 Number: 3
APA
Metin, M., & Eratlı Şirin, Y. (2025). Effective Communication as a Mediator between Leadership and Team Cohesion in Football Teams. Mediterranean Journal of Sport Science, 8(3), 478-489. https://doi.org/10.38021/asbid.1700012
AMA
1.Metin M, Eratlı Şirin Y. Effective Communication as a Mediator between Leadership and Team Cohesion in Football Teams. MJSS. 2025;8(3):478-489. doi:10.38021/asbid.1700012
Chicago
Metin, Mehmet, and Yeliz Eratlı Şirin. 2025. “Effective Communication As a Mediator Between Leadership and Team Cohesion in Football Teams”. Mediterranean Journal of Sport Science 8 (3): 478-89. https://doi.org/10.38021/asbid.1700012.
EndNote
Metin M, Eratlı Şirin Y (September 1, 2025) Effective Communication as a Mediator between Leadership and Team Cohesion in Football Teams. Mediterranean Journal of Sport Science 8 3 478–489.
IEEE
[1]M. Metin and Y. Eratlı Şirin, “Effective Communication as a Mediator between Leadership and Team Cohesion in Football Teams”, MJSS, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 478–489, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.38021/asbid.1700012.
ISNAD
Metin, Mehmet - Eratlı Şirin, Yeliz. “Effective Communication As a Mediator Between Leadership and Team Cohesion in Football Teams”. Mediterranean Journal of Sport Science 8/3 (September 1, 2025): 478-489. https://doi.org/10.38021/asbid.1700012.
JAMA
1.Metin M, Eratlı Şirin Y. Effective Communication as a Mediator between Leadership and Team Cohesion in Football Teams. MJSS. 2025;8:478–489.
MLA
Metin, Mehmet, and Yeliz Eratlı Şirin. “Effective Communication As a Mediator Between Leadership and Team Cohesion in Football Teams”. Mediterranean Journal of Sport Science, vol. 8, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 478-89, doi:10.38021/asbid.1700012.
Vancouver
1.Mehmet Metin, Yeliz Eratlı Şirin. Effective Communication as a Mediator between Leadership and Team Cohesion in Football Teams. MJSS. 2025 Sep. 1;8(3):478-89. doi:10.38021/asbid.1700012