First, I definitely want to preface my observations, by stating that I am coming to my conclusions from a sport psychologist's perspective. That being said, here goes. Unless you've been quarantined somewhere, or could give a rip about sports in general or soccer/football specifically, you've heard some whisperings about the Adidas
Jabulani World Cup ball. I'm ready to be corrected on this, but soccer is the only sport I'm aware of that is constantly changing it's object. Hockey pucks, basketballs, volleyballs, and footballs are somewhat iconic...they never change...ever...not even open for discussion. Golf may be the only other sport that has been open to modifications...somewhat. Soccer, on the other hand, seems to be constantly tweaking the ball, presumably making it better, faster, more responsive. The iconic 32 panel, black and white,
spherical polyhedron soccer ball has been replaced with the new
Jabulani, a ball that will, at the very least, survive this 2010 World Cup. This ball is an eight panel, bonded (no stitching), 11 color object with tiny raised grooves. Psychologically, this is a big deal. If I'm a world class soccer player, I have created an entire set of complex synaptic connections, over more than a decade, grounded in the look and feel of the "old" ball. If I'm a goalkeeper, playing at altitude, I've heard and now have experienced that this ball is faster. I'm also used to the black and white pattern, using the 32 hexagons for reference on spin and movement. Psychologically speaking, this is new territory. If I'm a striker, my brain is wired for black and white not eleven colors. Not a big deal? Tell some NHL players that the league is switching to a multi-colored puck with some added design changes...it's a big deal....psychologically speaking at least. All that being said, these athletes at this World Cup, could play with a peanut and make it look like magic.
