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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 11, No. 2

Publication Date: February 25, 2024

DOI:10.14738/assrj.112.16553.

Nunes, N. A., Petiot, G. H., & Adeosun, K. (2024). The Spatiality of the Body in Football. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal,

11(2). 459-470.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

The Spatiality of the Body in Football

Nuno André Nunes

Department of Sport and Health, Solent University,

Southampton, United Kingdom

Grégory Hallé Petiot

Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada

Kola Adeosun

Department of Sport and Health, Solent University,

Southampton, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

This research aims to address the critical issue of how the spatiality of the body

intersects with football philosophy, with a specific focus on the context of training

and match strategies. Traditionally, in football, coaching factors emerge within the

training environment and are closely aligned with the intended game model.

However, isolating these factors from the broader game model risks

decontextualizing them, potentially undermining crucial aspects such as solidarity,

team spirit, motivation, discipline, and rigor. Moreover, there is a pressing need to

ensure that physical, technical, and psychological aspects are subordinated to

tactical thinking and a relentless pursuit of victory during training sessions. This

imposes a mindset of seriousness and rigor to effectively navigate the demands of

complexity inherent in collective play. Drawing insights from philosophical

discussions by Merleau-Ponty and Edgar Morin, as well as contributions from

Manuel Sérgio and other scholars, this research seeks to deepen our understanding

of the intricate relationships between players within a team. By exploring these

dynamics, the study aims to shed light on how interactions among players shape

team dynamics and influence individual players’ perceptions within the broader

coaching context. Ultimately, the paper endeavours to contribute to a nuanced

comprehension of the spatial and philosophical dimensions inherent in football

training processes, thus offering valuable insights for both researchers and

practitioners in the field.

Keywords: Corporeality, Football Philosophy, Own Body, Complexity, Intentionality.

INTRODUCTION

According to Merleau-Ponty [quoted by Sérgio], philosophy "is an awakening, to see more and

transform our world for the better." Sérgio [1] adds that philosophy "requires deep reflection,

not accepting as obvious and evident all things, all ideas, all attitudes, without a critical,

problematizing attitude; it is the expressed thematization of the questions that reason

necessarily poses." Hence, the entire training process in football, as well as the game itself, must

be thought out in minute detail, structured, and systematized to generate outcomes. As opposed

to overall practice, training can reflect a complex thought, from which emerge the relationships

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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 11, Issue 2, February-2024

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

established between the team's players, and equally the image that players, as individuals, have

of the culture they are part of.

"Operationalizing a philosophy is giving substance to intelligence, imagination, and creativity.

It is the responsibility of an umbilical connection between the exercise, ideological reference,

and its inventor. Evolution occurs at the pace of each exercise, each training session, each game,

and each competition. It is experienced as it is constructed. The aim remains consistent: to

intellectualize the behavioural dynamics among players, organize a system that embodies a

philosophy, and evoke emotions. This consists in making a set of principles conscious and then

subconscious to naturally exponentiate a certain way of playing" [Faria, quoted by Oliveira et

al.]. In sum, it means creating intentions and habits in a constantly changing environment. In

this way, the philosophy of play and training, or the principles and sub-principles providing the

game model, will always be a unique process of its own identity. Established from personal

knowledge, it is born and develops according to everyday experiences. It becomes a complex

process and, along the way, an increasingly faithful reflection of the coaching staff. The need for

continuous review requires constant consideration, meditation, and constant pondering about

new ideas, emerging problems, and possible solutions, knowing in advance that situations are

provisional and never fully repeatable on a daily basis. This process quickly becomes richer,

more demanding, and more complex, and is always unfinished. The ongoing nature of the

training process persists even if the literature has strongly relevant concepts to offer and

important advances in training methodology and sport pedagogy have shown the way to

operate game models within training.

The objectives of this research venture comprise a multifaceted investigation into various

facets of football training. Initially, a comprehensive in-depth analysis will be conducted,

scrutinizing the traditional trainable factors within the context of football training. This

involves delving into the intricate dynamics and interdependencies of these factors within the

framework of the intended game model. Additionally, the study will explore the contextual

significance of training components by examining the implications of isolating specific elements

from the central game model. Special attention will be given to understanding how the

decontextualization of training elements may impact the emergence of crucial aspects of team

play.

Furthermore, the research aims to investigate the operationalization of important aspects

outlined by Oliveira et al. [2] and their role in shaping the team's ethos, which encompasses the

collective character, values, and credibility of the team, all judged as influences towards a

team’s identity, cohesion, and effectiveness. This includes a focused examination of the

emergence and integration of solidarity, team spirit, and other key elements within training

context. The study will analyse the subordination of physical, technical, and psychological facets

to tactical considerations in football training, evaluating the impact of aligning training aspects

with tactical thinking and an unwavering pursuit of victory. Moreover, the research will explore

the significance of the constant and systematic repetition of collective play during training. This

involves an investigation into how attention to the demands of complexity enhances skill

development and fosters effective teamwork. The mindset of seriousness and rigor advocated

by Sérgio [1] in football training will be examined, assessing its influence on player

development, team dynamics, and overall training effectiveness.