"Football should always be played attractively, you should play offensively, it should be a spectacle."
- Johan Cruyff.
Our deepest wishes have been answered and the beautiful game has come back to the world. Of course, not as we imagined it. The multicolored spinning orb racing along the green pitch, passed through a dimensional portal and spewed out something different. The same but different. The New Normal.
The way that athletes have returned to training, to competitions behind closed doors, to their dealings with the public, both fans and the media and most significantly the psychological state of these professionals in their return to work, have made a mark on agenda of the new normality generated by COVID-19.
In the over close to 130 days we have been cloistered behind closed doors, our way of life has changed radically. Nothing is as it used to be, and most probably will never return to the way it was before, amateur and professional sports, included. And we will just have to get used to it.
One of the things I have noticed the most is the lack of concentration of the athletes, a kind of psychological shock when they returned to work. Something that slowly as they return to practice pitches they seem to be recouping their form. Back to the automatic response. But will the impact be the same? The answer is most definitely, no.
The most base reason being the absence of an audience, which is most important. Especially in football, where it is being played behind closed doors, in virtual silence. On a mental level, a full stadium is a high percentage of the impact on their activation level.
The absence of these fans, which can be a shock to the athletes, will also create a Newly Normal relationship with them. Contact will be minimal, non-existent. Except for their presence on social media. The fans only contact with their idols. Chivas TV has done a great job of keep the team in the limelight since the beginning of pandemic, still those actions once taken for granted such as signing autographs, receiving the players as they arrive at the stadium or simply celebrating goals have come to an end for the moment.
And understandably so even virtual contact needs to be controlled. Have you guys zoomed with friends or workmates lately? Chaos!!! The connection with the people is a footballers life blood, it’s what gives them life.
It seems the Liga Mx has come to understand that, at least in favor of those of us who have been able to access the games on public and private television channels. “LIVE” audio is pumped in, behind the broadcasters voices, which gives us the illusion of “being there”. Believe me, it makes a difference. The games since the beginning of the season are deathly quiet. You can hear a pin drop or a coach shout or some colorful vernacular!!!
It might be a good idea to automate or pipe in the cheers and shouts to create that feeling during matches in the stadiums, too. The illusion needs to be created at least until the evolution of the pandemic can be checked, until there's an efficient vaccine.
And the Press well, while it hasn’t been “Goodbye" to the media, which plays an important role in the relationship with athletes, has been delegated to the sidelines and has a virtual presence. Contact with players is avoided and telematic press conferences now serve as a tool to bring sportsmen and women and the media closer together.
Strange days. The New Normal. A new challenge where our creativity and vision will be put to the test. I’m sure Johan Cryuff would come up with something to create the spectacle and keep the voice of the beautiful game alive.
