Research question: This study investigated the dynamics of the conflict process in volunteer boards of nonprofit community sport clubs. The nature and level of conflict, issues and existing conditions that incite conflict, how conflict is managed, and its ultimate impact on boards, were examined. Research methods: A multiple case study approach generated rich insight into the conflict process and allowed comparison across cases. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with board members in four nonprofit community-based amateur soccer clubs. Profiles of the conflict process for each club were informed by the board members' perspectives, which were cross-checked for consistency. Open coding was undertaken to categorize the data into conflict triggers, conditions, management strategies, and outcomes in each club, followed by axial coding of emergent subthemes. Results and findings: Board conflict was perceived to be relatively low and predominantly task-related, with some evidence of escalation to relationship conflict. Issues or events that triggered conflict were daily operations, market demands, and relationships with external partners. Poor communication and scarce volunteer resources within the boards were existing conditions that increased the likelihood of conflict over these issues. The boards tended to utilize collaboration or compromise to handle conflict, which were perceived to engender positive outcomes. Implications: The findings highlight the importance of awareness of the potential for both internal and external conflict triggers, monitoring and effectively managing task conflict, and addressing the challenges of communication that may set the stage for conflict or enable its constructive management.

A previous meta-analysis examining the relationship between cohesion and performance (Carron, Colman, Wheeler, & Stevens, 2002) revealed that this relationship was significantly stronger for female teams as compared with male teams. The purpose of the current study was to explore perceptions of the cohesion-performance relationship by coaches who have led teams of both genders. Semistructured interviews were employed with Canadian and German coaches with previous experience leading both male and female sport teams. The information obtained through the interviews yielded a number of categories pertaining to potential similarities and differences within female and male sport teams including: (a) the nature of cohesion (e.g., direction of the cohesion-performance relationship), (b) antecedents of cohesion (e.g., approaches to conflict), and (c) the management of cohesion (e.g., developing social cohesion). Overall, the results offer testable propositions regarding gender differences and group involvement in a sport context as well as informing best practices such that teams can attain optimal performance.

Group norms are agreed standards describing behaviours that should and should not be performed in a prescribed context. The purpose of this study was to examine, in the context of volunteer sport executive committees, the types and relative strength of perceived committee norms. A further purpose was to explore the influence of individual and group factors on those norms, and the relationship between perceived norms and individual behaviour. Volunteer sport executive committee members (N = 121) completed a questionnaire that measured perceptions of committee norms, various individual (position, tenure) and group (size, gender and tenure composition) variables, and individual behaviour (attendance, effort, intention to stay with the committee). Committee norms that reflect members′ expectations about how to treat each other (social norms) and how to work together (task norms) were perceived to be very strong. Only committee size explained any variation in perceived committee norms, where three norms were perceived to be stronger by members of large versus medium-size committees. Committee norms were mildly associated with member attendance and effort. The findings suggest there are strong expectations, with very little variation, for member behaviour in volunteer sport executive committees. However, those group expectations have only a modest influence on the individual behaviours examined here.