Learning outcomes

After this course you will have a deeper understanding about:

• the main reason why it is possible for ‘smooth talkers’ to get into high positions in the football world is because they are allowed to talk without saying anything. They will not be exposed because there is no universal football reference and football language to force them to say what they see and mean;
• the importance of non-verbal communication between teammates to hide the communication from the opponent and to be more unpredictable;
• the difference between tactics and game insight: the communication between players and the decision making within an individual player;
• football is a players’ sport from the perspective of decision making so players should be conditioned to be decision makers and not trained like soldiers;
• football technique and the fact that in football it is about reaching the objective of a decision independent of the technical execution used to reach this objective;
• kicking a ball is not passing. Passing is based on communication with the surrounding (teammates, opponents, the ball, etc.), making the decision to pass and executing this decision. So, kicking is an integral part of passing and not the same as passing.
• football fitness is fitness in the context of football and not fitness in the context of muscles, running or energy systems;