information gathering soccer drills

What is information gathering in soccer?

What qualities are necessary for good information gathering in soccer?

1. Peripheral vision: the ability to see what is happening on the sides without turning the head. This allows players to monitor spaces and movements of others without losing sight of the ball;
2. Anticipation: predicting opponent actions and teammate movements. Anticipation reduces reaction time and allows for quicker decision-making;
3. Concentration: maintaining a high level of concentration throughout the match allows for correctly processing perceived information and avoiding errors due to mental fatigue;
4. Processing speed: the speed at which a player processes received information and reacts. This allows for effective decision-making under pressure;
5. Coordination: good coordination between what the player sees and their actions on the field is fundamental to executing precise movements based on perceived information.

What exercises to work on to develop information gathering in soccer?

• Themed games: small-sided games where players must constantly scan the field and move according to the movements of teammates and opponents. For example, a possession exercise where each player must touch the ball a limited number of times before passing, thus encouraging quick and effective information gathering.
• The rondo: a group of players circulates the ball around defenders in the center to improve peripheral vision and quick decision-making;
• Video analysis: you can offer analyses of professional matches or specific situations on video to help your players understand decision-making and ideal positions to adopt;
• Reaction exercises: include visual or auditory stimuli to which players must react quickly, such as sudden changes of direction at the whistle or verbal commands.