To advance understanding of the mechanisms allowing for team coordination (TC) in complex motor actions, we
conducted a qualitative study with eight elite hand-to-hand circus acrobats. Data collection consisted of field observations, an
open-ended interview with the participants’ head coach, and focus group interviews with all acrobats. Data analysis yielded three
higher order themes: TC, collective efficacy (CE), and TC-CE linkage. Teammates’ shared and complementary mental models, as well
as implicit and explicit communication dynamics, emerged as formative sub-themes of TC; self-efficacy and other’s-efficacy emerged as
reflective sub-themes of CE. Our findings also suggest that TC is likely inter-related to CE in a systemic fashion. Practitioners
should encourage the development of both shared and complementary models of thinking, while promoting verbal and non-verbal
communication skills. Finally, increasing teammates’ confidence in themselves and in their teammates can help in the development
of CE as well as the enhancement of TC.
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