Say What? NonVerbal Communication in Soccer
Disorganization in teams sports is damaging. A soccer team that isn’t communicating well is likely to collapse under pressure of play. If nothing else, the players could end up circling the pitch looking more like Monty Python’s philosopher’s playing the game than trained young athletes. Let’s consider the role of nonverbal communication in team cohesion.
What do we mean by nonverbal communication? Well, verbal communication is saying “over here” and “Jose is open.” It’s saying “man on” and “ball back.” One player speaks to the other to offer guidance or support.
Nonverbal is without words. You do this kind of communication all of the time. Mainly you do this with your body language. Tapping your chest when facing the player throwing in the ball to indicate you will chest it back to him. Bobbing your head in the direction of the net while making eye contact with the player taking the corner kick suggests you want the ball at header height.
Those are the obvious examples. Another example is a bit more subtle, as you’re relying on the movement to be understood without aid of the eye contact and bonus gesture. For instance, a winger who runs down the line to suggest to the midfielder with the ball that they want the ball served out to them wide. You’re not going to shout, “look at me, I’m open on the wing, pass it to me behind their defensive line,” as you’re running now are you?
It’s up to the player on the ball to look up from the ball and read the game. This nonverbal communication gets easier to read and anticipate the more time you spend together as a team practicing. You get to know each other’s tendencies and abilities. You can move stealthily without having to verbally signally your intentions along the way.
Unconscious Nonverbal Perception
Training together as a team is also an opportunity for player’s to develop their unconscious visual perception.
We don’t recommend trying this at home — especially as our players aren’t legal driving age yet — but consider this example from Football Coach Evolution:
Driving a car unconsciously is not the same as driving with your eyes closed. While you were consciously reflecting on the game you were still unconsciously perceiving the other cars on the road, traffic lights turning red and green, junctions, etc. This unconscious visual information allowed you to still drive home safely although your consciousness was occupied by something else. One could say that while you were driving you were seeing things without looking.
FC Evolution goes on to argue, “unconscious non-verbal communication with teammates and opponents is the most important source of information for a player.”
Over the course of practicing together, players are unconsciously storing information about each other’s body language clues. A defender who sees a winger ahead of him with a point of gravity more forward is likely looking for the ball played to his feet. If he’s tilting back, with the point of gravity higher, he’s about to run for a deeply played ball.
This expertise comes from experience. Particularly playing the same positions in relationship to one another. In training, putting players in the position they typically have in game situations can build that nonverbal vocabulary with teammates, FC Evolution’s founder Raymond Verheijen suggests. “Eventually, teammates will be more predictable to each other which will result in less miscommunication on the pitch and a bigger chance of success.”
What does this mean for QC Mutiny players? It should be a reminder of the ongoing importance of practicing with your club. The more time you spend together, the better able you’ll be to predict each other’s actions — without having to say them aloud. After all, as soon as you say out loud “I intend to go left,” the opposing team is likely to use that valuable verbal insight in their favor.
We’ll look forward to seeing you all on the pitch to put these ideas into practice again soon! In the meantime, follow our social media to see training suggestions and enjoy some fun with your team.
