“Det känns som att man singlar slant – Antingen blir det bra eller dåligt vid tränarbyte” : En studie om ishockeyspelares upplevelse av tränarbyte och hur det påverkar ishockeylagets interna dynamik

Elite sports are characterized by high demands with a strong focus on winning where the coach plays a central role. The purpose of this study was to describe and understand how ice hockey players experience coach turnovers and how it affects team dynamics and performance. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with six professional players and analyzed using thematic analysis. The results show that coach turnovers are sensitive periods that affect both individuals and the group. The reactions from the players vary which may depend on the relationship with the previous coach. A change in leadership requires the team to adapt and the Informants expressed the importance of quickly building a relationship between the new coach and the team to ensure a smooth transition. A coach turnover can bring new energy but also uncertainty as players’ roles may be challenged, which can negatively affect team cohesion. Our analysis shows that group dynamics and social relationships within the team are crucial in how the change is experienced and managed, where team cohesion can be a key factor during coach turnovers. In conclusion, coach turnovers are often sudden and difficult to manage which makes strategies difficult to implement. However, organizations should invest in relationships and team culture before a change occurs and instead work proactively to support relationships through social activities to make it easier to manage change. Furthermore, coach turnovers are complex and without any guarantee of success.