The Ringelmann Effect in Football: When Bigger Isn't Always Better
What’s the story?
The European Championships and Copa America have been a reminder that creating a successful team capable of performing at the highest level is about more than individual talent. Coaches at these tournaments bring a diversity of team building approaches into play, with varying degrees of success. While the England team has progressed, its lacklustre performances have done little to inspire pundits and public alike.
Even manager Gareth Southgate admitted things have to change, saying: “The way we are playing isn’t about an individual player. We’ve got to play better as a group.”
This is the dichotomy of team sports however, and Southgate will be fully aware of the Ringelmann effect, which often comes into focus in big tournaments.
The Ringelmann effect, first observed by French agricultural engineer Maximilien Ringelmann in the late 19th century, describes the tendency for individual productivity to decrease as group size increases. This phenomenon has significant implications for modern football teams, particularly given the trend towards larger squads and expanded support and personnel staff. While this expansion aims to provide more options and specialised expertise, it may inadvertently lead to decreased overall efficiency and performance.
Implications of the Ringelmann effect include:
1. Diminishing returns: As squads grow, the marginal benefit of each additional player may decrease. This can lead to reduced playing time for some squad members, potentially affecting their motivation and match readiness.
2. Communication challenges: Larger groups often face more complex communication dynamics, which can hinder quick decision-making on and off the pitch.
3. Diffusion of responsibility: With more players and staff, individuals may feel less personally accountable for the team's performance, potentially leading to reduced effort or engagement. It can lead to some players ‘hiding’ during games in the hope that others pick up the workload.
4. Leadership strain: Managers and captains may struggle to maintain cohesion and a strong team culture with an expanded group, requiring more sophisticated leadership strategies.
5. Financial implications: Larger squads and support teams increase operational costs, which may not always translate to improvements in performance.
6. Tactical complexity: While a larger squad offers more tactical options, it can also lead to over-complication and difficulty in establishing a consistent playing style.
7. Team chemistry: Frequent rotation and limited playing time can make it challenging to develop strong on-field relationships and understanding between players.
The Team Code take
The Team Code’s Danny Donachie experienced the Ringelmann effect first-hand during his time as a Premier League physiotherapist in an era where the back room staff went from one physio to a cohort of support staff - with many highly educated and under utilised.
“As I reflect on my time in football, there’s a definite feeling that I became less productive over the years, because of the growing number of staff,” says Danny. “It can be a challenge to motivate staff when there might not be a high level of “hands on” work available. You will often find people with doctorates filling bottles or putting out cones. Little attention is paid to working on culture and helping integrate different members of the team to work cohesively.”
The most successful teams in recent years have had a very clearly defined core group of players with infrequent rotation. Burgeoning squads were at one time seen as the ultimate advantage but are now less common because of the noticeable impact on motivation and output.
The Head Coach has a role here too: ensuring that each player understands their role, setting individual targets, and actively building (or rebuilding) the culture of the team so that a sense of togetherness exists.
There are many squads full of talented players at both the European Championships and the Copa America, but the teams that will win are the ones that ensure that no player is allowed to ‘hide’ and that the group works hard to get the best out of each other.
Purpose is essential for a meaningful life and meaningful teamwork. Growing numbers of staff working with teams can diminish the sense of purpose each individual has and, worse, can create division within the squad around the notion of an ‘in’ group that not everybody belongs to.
Three Actions
1. Clear role definition: Ensure each squad member and staff member understands their specific contribution to the team's goals.
2. Adaptive leadership and communication: Develop leadership styles and communication systems that can adapt to larger, more complex team dynamics.
3. Culture building: Invest in activities and structures that foster a strong team identity and shared purpose.