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Task complexity and social identity interact to shape interpersonal coordination in rugby union
Quentin Bourgeais1, Guillaume Hacques2, Pedro Passos3
1University Rouen Normandie, Normandie University, CETAPS UR 3832, F-76000, Rouen, France; Université Le Havre Normandie, University Rouen, Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, Normandie University, LITIS UR 4108, F-76600 Le Havre, France.
Acta Psychologica
|March 29, 2026
Summary
Task complexity and motivational goals influence team coordination in rugby. Defenders' positions altered coordination, while goal priming interacted with complexity, affecting player roles.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Ecological Dynamics
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Understanding interpersonal coordination in team sports is crucial.
- Ecological dynamics and social identity theory offer frameworks for analysis.
- The interplay between task complexity and motivational goals in rugby is underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how task complexity and motivational goals interact to affect interpersonal coordination in rugby union.
- To examine player and team adaptations to varying defender positions and goal orientations.
- To advance network analysis methods for studying collective behavior in sports.
Main Methods:
- Experimental manipulation of task complexity via defender positions.
- Priming of self- vs. team-oriented motivational goals.
- Network analysis of passing interactions, including spatial and topological features.
Main Results:
- Task complexity significantly altered team coordination patterns and individual player roles.
- Attackers adapted passing strategies based on defender spatial configurations.
- Motivational goals alone had minor effects but interacted with task complexity, influencing player roles.
Conclusions:
- Ecological dynamics and social identity processes jointly shape interpersonal coordination in team sports.
- Task complexity is a key factor influencing coordination and player roles in rugby.
- Network analysis provides valuable insights into collective behavior and coordination strategies.
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