Communication in Doubles Tennis: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study
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Authors
Pappin, Jon
Issue Date
2008
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the experience of communication between partners of an experienced doubles tennis team. Doubles tennis is a widely played sport which requires many different types of communication to be successful. Communication is a building block of all relationships and relationships are the foundation of all social organizations from work to family to sport. Communication, and dyad communication specifically, has received only limited attention from the sport community. In the current study, two experienced doubles tennis partners were interviewed using a descriptive phenomenological methodology (Giorgi, 1985) to better understand the underlying experience of communication in one specific tennis match. The results of the analysis revealed four higher-order uses of communication: (a) strategy transmission and negotiation, (b) directing attention, (c) psychological adjustments, including; motivation, confidence, and relaxation, and (d) confusing opponents. In addition, the analysis showed an extensive use of nonverbal communication because of its strategic and efficiency advantages over verbal communication. The results of the study extend communication literature by studying communication in tennis, the dyad, and the intricacies of an experienced and evolved sport partnership.