Lecture Notes on Scanning in Football

Introduction

• Researcher: Gia Jord (1997)
• Main Question: What separates good footballers from truly great ones?
• Initial tools: Notebook, VCR, hours of match footage.
• Focus: Scanning - checking surroundings before the ball arrives.

Importance of Scanning

• Definition: Temporarily taking eyes off the ball to prepare for actions.
• Key Finding: Frank Lampard scanned 6.2 times on average before receiving the ball—much higher than others studied.
  • Influence: Lampard's habit shaped by his father’s coaching in his youth.

Research Findings

• Over 10 scientific papers and 25 theses have explored scanning.
• Links:
  • Higher scan rates correlate with higher pass completion rates.
  • Increased progressive forward passes.
• Key Insight: Many players scan without effectiveness; proper timing is crucial.
  • Look at the ball when touched, look away during transitions.

Scanning in Top Players

• Lionel Messi: 676 scans during the World Cup final, averaging 3.4 scans before receiving the ball.
  • Quality: Exceptional timing and speed in scanning.
• Andrea Pirlo: Legendary scanning ability, dictated the game without verbal communication.
• Cesc Fabregas: High scan rate; noted the importance of anticipating the next pass.
• Xavi Hernandez: Highest average scan rate (8.3), developed scanning habit to avoid pressure.

Common Mistakes

• Many players fail to scan effectively leading to goals conceded.
• Statistical Insight: 38% of goals conceded in the 2020 European Championship stemmed from poor awareness.

Mechanics of Scanning

• Scans last about half a second.
• Players gather proximal information: seeing teammates, opponents, and openings.
• Critical Scan: Final scan before receiving the ball to gather last-minute information.
  • Example: Virgil van Dijk adjusted his decision based on a critical scan.
• Notable Players: Zinedine Zidane and Martin Ødegaard demonstrate mastery in critical scanning.

Research Recognition

• Attention from Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger led to further studies on scanning.
• Study of 27 players over 10,000 ball possessions established a link between scanning and performance.
• Training: Adoption of scanning drills and practices.

Scanning Training Techniques

• Drills: Various drills can improve scanning ability at team levels.
• Individual Practice: Scanning before and after every pass is encouraged.
• Virtual Reality Training: Tool developed to improve scanning, decision-making, and game intelligence.
  • Example: Aurelien Tchouameni prepared for a match in VR, resulting in a strong performance.
  • Results: Players who trained in VR improved their scan rate by 28%.

Conclusion

• Focus on habitual scanning can yield marginal gains in performance.
• Getting Started: Requires a Meta Quest VR headset and access to training apps.

Closing Remarks

• Continued practice and commitment can enhance scanning skills, benefiting overall gameplay.