Social factor
The social factor relates to the features that can change when individuals have to work or perform on their own or with others. It also concerns areas of conduct while performing, the effect of culture and the environment on the performance. This includes cooperation, communication and etiquette.
Etiquette
Etiquette involves players following the written and unwritten rules of a game that ensures good sportsmanship throughout a game.
Examples of good etiquette would be kicking the ball out of play if a player becomes injured during a football match or clapping when a goal is scored in netball.
A good example of sportsmanship is seen in a rugby team giving their opponents a guard of honour as they leave the pitch.
Impact on performance
A badminton player was getting very annoyed with their performance and began shouting and complaining about a lot of decisions. The umpire gave the player a final warning. A couple of points later the player banged their racket into the ground in frustration at losing a point. The umpire awarded the opponent the next point due to a court violation and this meant the game was lost.
At the end of the hockey match the players who had been very competitive and physical in the match made sure to shake every opponent's hand and congratulate them. The teams applauded each other off the pitch as well. This good sportsmanship is important to both teams’ reputation as well as that of each player. It could help ensure that the teams and supporters will respect each other in future meetings and will encourage fair and respectful play.
Motivation
Motivation is the level of enthusiasm or desire to train/compete at something. This motivation can be external such as rewards, trophies or salary. Motivation can also be internal such as personal goals being achieved, sheer enjoyment or physical well-being.
Impact on performance
A squash player had played well in the league all season and was one game away from earning a top three position in the league. The reward for this was a trip to the national finals. This external motivation pushed the player to train much harder and really focus on their game plan for the match, giving them a much better chance of winning.
A gymnast was not expecting too much in the competition. In the few weeks before it she had not trained too well, choosing instead to go out with friends or watch television. As the event got nearer, her low levels of motivation meant she was not prepared enough and her coach decided to leave her out of the team completely.