Individual Decision Making

Vision - Perception - Decision - Deception - Execution

by Gary Ireland

1. Vision

Players scan; take looks; take their eyes off the ball; study opposition; check over their shoulders when they have confidence with the ball. So in actuality, technical competency and ball/body mastery (#5 Execution) actually impacts and influences vision. Without the actual ability to be able to do an action, there is no vision because the player cant see what they cant play. A player simply doesn't survey the field survey and select what they cannot do nor do they make a run and look for a pass that cannot be played. A receiving player with a vision for a run will only make it if the player in possession has the ability to actually make the connection.

2. Perception

('Perceptio' latin) -'gathering, receiving' of information'): 'recognize patterns of play more effectively. the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the presented information or environment (Schacter 2011). It's having the ability to encode, anticipate teammates' behaviors, and ability to stay calm.

3. Decision

Is made after the player has assessed and then chosen the best option. A player does not deceive and feint unless they have surveyed their options. The art of faking is because they have surveyed the alternatives and used them to their advantage. Players don't deceive and fake and they select the options. It's not logical.

“Proactive vs Reactive”

4. Deception

Fakes, feints and 'moves' (deception) can only be used and contemplated once a player has adequate balls mastery abilities. Deception can come in the form of a deliberate loose touch. Wegerle asked "have you taught your kids to pretend to mis-control the bal"? A player can only deceive once the have complete ball and body mastery. The art of looking away from the ball, to fake to pass to an imaginary player, to look away from a good teammate and to deliberately play with your head down is made because a player can disguise their physical and visual intentions. For example a player who deliberatley controls the ball under the body and puts their head down makes a defender commit to them and then quickly surprises them with a pass from under their body. Or an attacker who shows the ball deliberately and encourages a defender to dive in.

5. Execution

The final stage of the action, whether or not its pass, shoot or dribble which depends on the situation and usually proximity to opponents goal. With 95% of all goals scored inside the penalty area, this telling and well known statistic which I call 'scoring scenario' is what usually determines a player decision making, from back to front. If a player is limited technically they will not have good vision, and therefore have limited options and the elusive ability to deceive.