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Tom Seabury

Social cohesion vs task cohesion in team sports

In team sports, the concept of cohesion is often hailed as a vital ingredient for success. However, there are different forms of cohesion, and understanding these distinctions can help us better appreciate how teams function.


While intertwined, Social and task cohesion serve distinct purposes in a team’s dynamics. Each can influence performance in different ways, and their interaction (or lack thereof) can make or break a team’s journey to success. A famous example of this is the relationship between Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole during Manchester United’s treble-winning 1998-1999 season.


Social cohesion is the glue that binds individuals through mutual trust, friendship, and camaraderie. It’s about the relationships between teammates—the feeling of being part of a family or a close-knit group. Teams with strong social cohesion often have a harmonious locker room environment where players enjoy spending time together off the field as much as on it. This cohesion can boost morale, reduce stress, and enhance communication because players are more inclined to support each other.


Task cohesion, on the other hand, is about alignment toward a common objective, such as winning matches, achieving tactical goals, or clinching championships. Task cohesion is driven by a collective focus on performance and success. It’s less about personal bonds and more about shared purpose and a commitment to execute one’s role within the team’s strategy, regardless of personal dynamics. While social cohesion may enhance team spirit, task cohesion is often what gets the job done, particularly in high-pressure situations.


The relationship (or lack thereof) between Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole provides a vivid example of how task cohesion can prevail even when social cohesion is absent. By their own accounts, Sheringham and Cole had a strained relationship that bordered on open hostility. The tension reportedly began in 1995 when Sheringham, then an England international, snubbed Cole during Cole’s national team debut by refusing to shake his hand as Cole came on as a substitute. This incident planted the seeds of resentment, and despite playing for the same club at Manchester United, years later, the two never reconciled. In interviews, Cole has openly stated that the two never spoke, even during United’s historic treble-winning season.


Despite their lack of personal connection, Sheringham and Cole demonstrated remarkable task cohesion on the pitch. Their partnership functioned because they both understood the bigger picture: the team’s success. Under Sir Alex Ferguson’s leadership, they were able to put their differences aside and focus on their individual roles within the team’s system. Sheringham, a technically gifted forward with great vision, and Cole, a clinical and hardworking striker, complemented each other’s playing styles. Their professional commitment to the team’s objectives transcended their personal animosity.


One of the most iconic moments of their task cohesion came in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich. With United trailing 1-0 in the dying minutes, Sheringham scored the equaliser, keeping United in the game. Moments later, Ole Gunnar Solskjær scored the winning goal from a Sheringham flick. While Cole didn’t directly contribute in that final sequence, his tireless effort throughout the campaign and his understanding of his role alongside Sheringham were pivotal in United reaching the final. Their ability to compartmentalise personal feelings and focus on the shared goal became an essential factor in the team’s historic success.


The Sheringham-Cole example highlights an important reality for teams: social cohesion, while beneficial, is not always a prerequisite for success. A team does not need to be made up of close friends to achieve greatness. What matters most is task cohesion—the ability of individuals to align their efforts toward a collective goal. In professional sports, where diverse personalities, backgrounds, and egos often collide, fostering task cohesion becomes a critical responsibility for coaches and team leaders.


That said, task cohesion is not an automatic substitute for social cohesion. Teams that can develop both forms of cohesion often achieve the highest levels of performance. Social cohesion enhances trust and communication, which can make task execution smoother and more efficient. It also creates an environment where players are more likely to support each other during tough times. However, when social cohesion is absent or weak, a clear focus on task cohesion can ensure that personal dynamics do not derail the team’s objectives.


For coaches, the key is to create a culture that prioritises the team’s shared purpose and instils professionalism. Encouraging mutual respect, even among players who may not get along personally, helps to maintain task cohesion. Coaches can also emphasise role clarity and reinforce the importance of collective success over individual grievances. By setting these expectations, even players with strained relationships can contribute to the team’s success.


Sheringham and Cole’s dynamic reminds us that in sport, the collective goal often takes precedence over personal feelings. Their ability to thrive as teammates despite their differences is a testament to the power of task cohesion. It’s a lesson that resonates across all levels of sport: while social cohesion can elevate a team’s experience, it is task cohesion that ultimately ensures the job gets done.




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