Is Football an Absolute Sport or a Relative Sport?

Is Football an Absolute Sport or a Relative Sport?

This blog presents evidence that football is not an absolute sport but rather a relative one, shaped entirely by its dynamic and ever-changing context. Through examples, logic, and practical insights, the blog invites you to explore how football’s situational nature should influence coaching and training practices. Effective coaching requires sessions that mirror the unpredictable scenarios players face on the pitch, rather than outdated methods like running laps or isolated gym exercises.

Imagine two athletes preparing for their respective sports. On one side, a sprinter like Usain Bolt stands at the starting blocks, laser-focused on running 100 meters as fast as possible—an absolute measure of speed. On the other side, a footballer is on the pitch, ready for a game. While the footballer may sprint at top speed during moments of the match, they will also stop abruptly, change direction, jog, or accelerate based on the evolving game. If the sprinter is like a high-speed train on a fixed track, the footballer is more like a dynamic GPS navigator, constantly recalculating routes based on the situation ahead.

This distinction between absoluteness and relativeness is at the heart of football. Unlike athletics, where actions are often absolute, football is entirely situational. Players do not simply run at maximum speed for the sake of it; they run because the situation demands it. The direction, speed, and intensity of their movements are dictated by the game’s ever-changing context.

The Problem: Treating Football as an Absolute Sport

Despite football’s situational characteristics, many coaches continue to treat it as if it were an absolute sport. This mindset leads to training practices that do not align with the realities of the game. For instance, why do we see football players running laps or sprinting at top speed across the pitch during training sessions? Have you ever wondered why players sometimes run from one end of the pitch to the other after a match? Such practices stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of football’s demands.

Less knowledgeable and inexperienced coaches often replicate what they see without questioning its relevance. The result is training that prioritizes activities unrelated to the game’s inherent characteristics. This blog aims to challenge this flawed approach and provide a better understanding of football’s situational nature.

Real-Life Examples of Situational Training

• Pep Guardiola’s Philosophy: Guardiola’s teams emphasize game-like scenarios in training, ensuring players are prepared for situational demands. His small-sided games and positional drills mimic real match conditions.

• Liverpool’s Counter-Pressing Drills: Jurgen Klopp’s training sessions focus on transitions, replicating high-intensity moments where players must react quickly to regain possession and adapt their positioning.

Football Training Should Mirror the Game

In football, players do not run for the sake of running. They run because the situation in front of them requires it. The direction, speed, and intensity of a player’s movement are dictated by the game’s context. For example:

• A defender sprints to close down an attacker.

• A midfielder jogs into space to provide a passing option.

• A forward accelerates to exploit a gap in the opposition’s defence.

These actions cannot be predetermined; they arise in response to the evolving situation on the pitch. This fundamental truth should inform how training sessions are designed. Training should replicate the dynamic and situational nature of the game to prepare players for real match scenarios.

The CDEF Framework: A Game-Informed Approach

The CDEF framework was developed with the game as its starting point. It is rooted in football’s foundation, taking into account the sport’s characteristics and player behaviour. This approach ensures that training is relevant, effective, and football-specific.

• C - Communication: Players communicate to understand the situation and respond appropriately.

• D - Decision Making: Players make decisions based on the game’s context.

• E - Execution: Players execute their decisions within the constraints of the game.

• F - Fitness: Football-specific fitness is developed through repeated engagement in game-like scenarios.

By consistently practising CDE (Communication, Decision Making, Execution), players naturally develop football-relative speed and football-relative fitness. These are not generic attributes but skills honed through football itself.

Visualizing the CDEF Framework

Below is a simplified illustration of how the CDEF framework operates:

• Communication ➔ Decision Making ➔ Execution ➔ Football Fitness

This sequence emphasizes that fitness is a byproduct of playing football, not an isolated attribute developed away from the game.

Why Fitness Should Be Football-Specific

Many coaches mistakenly believe that fitness must be developed in the gym or through activities unrelated to football before players can perform on the pitch. This thinking arises from using running stats or other isolated metrics as a starting point rather than letting the game itself inform training practices. Football-specific fitness is not about running laps or hitting top speeds in isolation; it is about conditioning players to perform actions dictated by the game’s context.

When players train using the CDEF framework, they:

• Develop fitness through activities directly related to football.

• Improve their ability to adapt to situational demands.

• Enhance their understanding of the game, making them better decision-makers on the pitch.

Addressing Common Counterarguments

• Counterargument: "Players still need absolute fitness to endure 90 minutes."

  • Rebuttal: While endurance is important, it is best developed in football-specific contexts. Game-like drills improve both fitness and tactical awareness simultaneously.

• Counterargument: "Gym training is essential for strength and conditioning."

  • Rebuttal: While gym work has its place, it should supplement football training, not replace it. Strength must translate into situational performance on the pitch.

Practical Tips for Coaches

• Replace running laps with small-sided games that simulate match conditions.

• Design transition drills that reflect the unpredictable nature of football.

• Incorporate positional training where players adapt to game-specific scenarios.

• Use video analysis to identify and replicate situational demands in training.

Conclusion

Football is not a sport of absolutes; it is a dynamic and situational game where every movement, decision, and action is dictated by the context of the match. This blog has explored the importance of understanding these characteristics and aligning training practices to reflect football’s unique demands. By shifting from outdated, absolute approaches to game-informed methods like the CDEF framework, coaches can help players develop not only their physical fitness but also their situational awareness, decision-making, and execution skills.

Training should mirror the game itself. Whether through small-sided games, transition drills, or position-specific exercises, every session should prepare players for the unpredictable nature of football. The CDEF framework provides a structured, effective approach that prioritizes football-relative fitness over generic methods, ensuring players are better equipped for match scenarios.

It is time to embrace this change. Coaches who adopt the CDEF framework will not only elevate their teams’ performances but also earn the trust and respect of their players. Remember, every player deserves a coach who truly understands the game. Let the situational nature of football guide your training, and the results will speak for themselves.