The
implications of specificity expand throughout the entire sphere of the sport.
Apart from determining the concept, methods and exercise content in all aspects
of training, the principle of specificity applies between football's
environments or cultures. It has been concluded that a mixture of genetic and
environmental influences strongly impact on an individual or group social and
cultural behaviour and profile. In some advanced training programmes this
aspect has already been identified as an invaluable constituent of the coaching
concept.
Over
and over again we are made aware that there are links between players'
emotional, physiological, psychological or moral capacities and their
performance and happiness. As these capacities are developed or learned through
experiences influenced or determined by specific traits of local environments
and cultures, it is only normal that players in their game and behaviour will
reflect these particularities.
For
a child, in the Western culture, a ball has just the significance of a play
object. In the context of African, Asian, South American or other similar
environments, a football has a much greater significance to a young player. It
is the object of play but also an important aesthetic tool that enables the child
to gain maximum satisfaction and recognition by expressing his/her skills and
even artistic emotions. A football is an important part of those children's
life.
In
cultures where players show strong inclinations for self-expression through
elements of play and are also supported by favourable environmental conditions
such as year-around warm climate, plenty leisure time and rich artistic
tradition, the football culture would reflect an approach to the game based on
extensive dribbling, creative technique and short passing play combinations.
Naturally, the more ball touches and dribbling the more opportunities for the
players to express their emotions and feelings. Whenever these play features
are correctly and effectively integrated into modern concepts of competitive
football the results could be gratifying.
An
accurate system of knowledge should, undoubtedly, attach recognition to
genetic, geographic, climatic, environmental and cultural factors and
conditions that influence the physical profile, physiological identity,
mentality and attitude of players.
A
far-reaching aspect in this regard is that these circumstances can potentially
influence the characteristics and diversity of technique, work rate, mobility,
tactical creativity and the attractiveness of the style of play. Unfortunately,
there is no evidence that this fundamental aspect has ever been considered in
the development of contemporary training theories, despite the persisting need
to accept the differentiated specificity of football cultures from contrasting
regions of the world.
Although
it is not possible to maximize performance by transferring components of a
relatively simple game mentality to concepts of play that are traditionally
dominated by skill sophistication and creative approach, many football
societies with abundant natural resources of impressive skill and creativity
still persuade the trend of simplistic and strictly direct football.
Two
contrasting cultures, Brazil and Germany, have demonstrated over decades of
international success that the specifics and mentality of their game can
produce winning performances at World Cup finals, despite obvious differences
in almost every game component. There is a logical connection between the
quality and performance of the Brazilian national team and the very specific
approach to training, determined by game's local culture, environment and
organizational structure. So it has been with the German football.
Brazil,
the most successful nation in the world has, until recently, resisted many temptations to change the
specificity of Brazilian football and adapt it to some dominant features of the
European game and that consistency triumphed.
The
Brazilian player is exposed to a large volume of specific casual and organized
training during the phase of basic development which contributes to an early
consolidation of automated ball skills and creative individual tactical
movement. This process is strongly influenced by a culture which reflects the
drive to adapt and perfect a player's distinguished inborn qualities such as
predispositions for excellent ball skills, temperament and constitution to the
elements of competitive technique, tactics and fitness. That is Brazil's
"trade mark" which makes the differentiation in specificity of the
game in a cross-section of football cultures.
Football
in Asia and Africa is extremely rich in valuable, yet contrasting features that
could be developed into very distinct and remarkable playing styles. What might
be perceived, for example, as morphological limitations of some Asian football
populations could be compensated with the abundant resources of natural
quickness and endurance capability.
The
tendency of individualism of the African game mentality, could, as well, be
reinforced with tactical efficiency and integrated into a game concept
distinguished by a mixture of rapid, short and ultra-short passing and
purposeful dribbling which eventually would exhibit all exquisite attributes
fostered by this culture.
Noakes,
T.D., in one of his highly acclaimed research on the new physiological aspects
of the principles of training, substantiates an early finding also identified
by other sport scientists that "Black athletes have been shown to run
substantially faster at all distances beyond 5Km, and they have superior
fatigue resistance". In years past other valuable qualities of African
players such as agility, flexibility, movement coordination, balance and rhythm
have also been assessed through studies and experiments and viewed as
distinguished ingredients for superior performance in football.
The
irony is that African football cannot benefit from most of these valuable
features as the game in the continent, largely, remains dominated by models of
contrasting and irrelevant dynamic.
It
is illogical to expect, for example, that any of the Asian countries’ football
population which is characterised by a small stature and light weight to
successfully compete in international competitions while attempting to match
the tough demands of predominantly "physical" football cultures.
Compensating
for the slight body constitution, such football communities possess unexplored
resources of natural skill, agility, quickness and creativity which along with
a superior aerobic endurance capacity and natural fatigue resistance might
never be maximized simply because the globalize training doctrines, most
likely, have no provisions for some of the very distinct local features.
Elements of refined technique, speed, agility, coordination, improvisation and
sustained pace which are specific to Asian and African players, represent an
impressive collection of qualities which could produce new style identities in
the world's highly competitive football scenario.
Maximal
Training not only recognizes the competitive value of the individual styles as
part of distinct mentalities, but also provides innovative answers to enrich
them within different game environments.
