Comparative Analysis of Team Cohesion between Female Football and Hockey Players of 38th National Games 2025

Abstract: The Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ), developed by Carron, Widmeyer, and Brawley in 1985, evaluates cohesion in sports teams. It distinguishes between two primary factors, group cohesion and individual cohesion, further divided into four subscales: Individual Attractions to the group-social (ATGS), Individual Attractions to the Group - Task (ATGT), Group Integration - Social (GIS), and Group Integration - Task (GIT). The study aims to explore the differences in team cohesion between female National Games football and field hockey players from Manipur. The methodology involved a sample of 36 female athletes-18 from football and 18 from field hockey participating in the 38th National Games of India in 2025. Data was collected using the GEQ, with random sampling employed for player selection. The analysis utilized a t-test for independent samples via SPSS software to assess statistical significance. Results indicated that female hockey players exhibited significantly higher individual attraction to the group task (ATGT = 8.81) than their football counterparts. However, the researchers found no significant differences in other cohesion factors between the two sports. While task-related attraction may vary, overall group cohesion remains comparable across these teams. The findings contribute to understanding how team dynamics among female athletes differ within various sports contexts. The GEQ's effectiveness in measuring these constructs supports its continued use in sports psychology research, emphasizing the importance of cohesion in enhancing team performance and athlete satisfaction. Further researchers could expand on these findings by examining additional variables influencing team cohesion across different sports disciplines.