A Scoping Review of Intrateam Conflict and Conflict Management in Sport

The purpose of this review was to identify and synthesize the current sport literature on intrateam conflict and conflict management. Among other criteria, articles were included if intrateam conflict or intrateam conflict management was listed in the study purpose statement. Eighteen articles were included. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis revealed that individual-level factors (e.g., personality) were common conflict sources, while outcomes (e.g., cohesion) occurred at the group level. The review identified four intervention studies and two on coach conflict management styles, suggesting that a range of strategies may be effective. Findings from this review reveal a need for more research in sport settings that measures intrateam conflict. An initial conceptual model of intrateam conflict is provided, which follows an input–mediator–output framework, and sport scholars should aim to develop a sport-specific theory of intrateam conflict to better guide future research.