What is the Pattern Morphocycle?

When we refer to Tactical Periodisation, a fundamental operative concept to consider is that of the Pattern Morphocycle. The term Tactical Periodisation is justified by the fact that it effectively involves a periodization, that is, the necessity of establishing temporal milestones (even if not rigid) that will allow the acquisition and emergence of a certain Collective Intentionality, that is, a style of play or a particular tactic throughout the sports season. In this way of understanding training and periodisation in football, it is at a more micro level where we find the fundamental unit of the entire operational process. This is the Pattern or Standard Morphocycle, which, based on a game-to-game periodisation, enables the emergence and embodiment of the desired style of play. The Pattern Morphocycle should be understood as a fractal of a more macro level of a specific Tactical Periodisation since, being a shorter-term periodisation (cycle between two games), it should also constantly embody a Collective Intentionality, a style of play, desired to be assumed and expressed as the team’s identity (Interview with Jorge Maciel, 2011).

It’s a cycle that resembles the next cycle, depending on what?

On the shape of dynamism that causes repercussions!

Because what you want to happen is for certain geometrical configurations to emerge but depending on the way that you want players to interact.

That is a shape, Morpho because of that, a morphology, the logic of dynamics.

So, it has nothing to do with the micro level, which is even less micro if you play midweek… but it doesn’t lose the essential shape, because you need to guarantee the uninterrupted, constant presence of the pattern.

And the pattern is related to the Idea, with the Idea in its… you can have an idea of a map and you put there the cities and all that.

What about the holes?

But that is an idea!

And that is why it makes sense to speak about fractals. Otherwise, it doesn’t! You fractionate, but without losing the configuration.

(…) It is a Morphocycle that is expressed in a diversified way because you have two matches in one week, that’s it. But you cannot think about the drills differently; they must be identifying, they have to be identified with your intended way of playing, and the same with resting. It has to do with the shape, with the Morphology.

Morphology is, in fact, the science of Dynamics, let’s put it that way.

How do you identify the teams?

By certain patterns, and these patterns have a shape, and it is the dynamic that provides it with… you can to create that dynamic in training, then you must do it through those shapes.

So, the exercises you invent may be less complex, they may resemble the micro dimension, but they need to contain the way in which you want to play, they have to have that dynamic correspondence.

Therefore, that is what directs the adaptation, the same shapes, and in those shapes are involved all elements required to create them – the physical, technical, tactical… more or less complex, depending on the different days, and that is why Tactical Periodisation talks about Complex Progression.

The fact that you are giving more priority with issues that are more ‘micro’ in one week does not mean that you are not respecting the Complex Progression as you should. Because causality is a spiral, if you prefer, it is non-linear.

Vítor Frade Interview In Tactical Periodization Vs Tactical Periodization by Xavier Tamarit)