How does the brain of soccer goalkeepers work? The expert named the distinctive features of their thinking

Goalkeepers know which way they should kick the ball when a shot comes in, as they perceive the world very differently than normal people.

How goalkeepers’ brains work

“The workings of a goalkeeper’s (goalkeeper’s) brain are unique – because he has to react lightning fast to the actions of field players and make crucial decisions.”

• Firstly, goalkeepers have highly developed hand-eye coordination and peripheral vision – they see the whole field. The brain anticipates the trajectories of the ball based on the players’ movements.
• Secondly, goalkeepers need a high level of concentration throughout the match. Their brains must be ready for sudden throws at any moment, filtering out unnecessary information.
• Thirdly, they have a well-developed strategic memory – goalkeepers memorize which corners of the goal different players prefer to shoot at. This helps to better anticipate their actions.

It is also important for goalkeepers to be able to quickly switch concentration and maintain confidence. Different parts of the brain are involved here – frontal lobes, reward systems and others.

Let’s take a closer look at the brain function of soccer goalkeepers. Their cerebellum works clearly and properly – it coordinates body movements in space and allows lightning-fast reaction to the flight of the ball.

In addition, it is important for goalkeepers to develop working memory. It allows you to keep in focus several objects simultaneously – the position of players, possible trajectories of a shot. This is critical for choosing the right decision.

The emotional aspect is also interesting – after a missed goal, the brain triggers a stress reaction, adrenaline release. The ability to quickly calm down and continue the process is an important skill for any goalkeeper.

In addition, we can mention the development of visual-spatial perception, strategic thinking when choosing a position, and the ability to read the body language of players.

Goalkeepers have a high degree of awareness of the position of the players about to take a shot and their position in the goal. They can capture small details such as the position of the attacker’s feet and body, as well as the direction in which they are looking. These are visual indicators used by goalkeepers to predict where a shot is going to go.

Goalkeepers can also pay attention to the sound generated by the ball being struck. Sound cues can provide additional information about the strength and direction of the kick.

This special way of perceiving allows goalkeepers to make decisions a moment earlier than other players and make choices about which way to point their body for the best chance of deflecting a shot.

What the research says

A recent study conducted by the University of Ireland Dublin found that soccer goalkeepers have a high sensory perspective. And this sets them apart from both regular people and other players.

According to the authors of the work, published in the journal Current Biology, goalkeepers are able to distinguish visual signals more accurately and faster than auditory ones. This ability allows them to act quickly even on the basis of incomplete information, as in the case of shots on goal, when it is still unclear what trajectory will be chosen. Athletes separate visual and auditory cues, rather than complementing them.

The scientists, led by Michael Quinn (who is also a former professional goalkeeper), recruited 60 volunteers, including goalkeepers, players and people not involved in soccer. Tests based on images associated with sounds at different time intervals showed significant differences in the multi-sensory abilities of the goalkeepers.

They were able to evaluate visual and auditory cues faster and more accurately even when they were very close to each other, showing a tendency to separate these stimuli rather than integrate them.

Goalkeepers separate visual and auditory cues in their perception rather than complementing them because each of these types of cues provides unique information and their temporal characteristics may differ.

Visual cues allow the player to track the movement of the ball in space. This includes estimating the ball’s flight path, velocity, and direction. However, visual perception can be subject to distortion due to various external factors such as lighting, weather, or obstacles on the field.

Auditory cues, on the other hand, provide the goalkeeper with information about when the ball is being kicked. The sound is created immediately after the ball makes contact with the player’s foot. This gives the goalkeeper additional warning of an impending kick and allows him to start moving in the right direction before the ball reaches his field of vision.

The timing of visual and auditory cues can vary depending on the position of the player and the accuracy of the shot, so goalkeepers process these cues separately. This helps them to better adapt to a variety of situations on the pitch and increases their chances of successfully reacting to opponents’ shots. This approach represents a high level of goalkeeper skill and contributes to their success on the soccer field.

As the authors of the study note, this tendency to compartmentalize sensory information arises from the need for goalkeepers to make instantaneous decisions based on visual and auditory cues that may come at different times.

The work of Irish scientists sheds light on the unique brain characteristics of soccer goalkeepers. Let’s take a closer look at how the ability to separate visual and auditory signals helps goalkeepers.

During a match, the pitch is filled with noise, fans shouting, whistles – a host of distracting auditory stimuli. However, a goalkeeper can cut them out and focus on the visual cues from the players’ movements. His brain is able to clearly differentiate between these data streams. This is critical for making split-second decisions.

In addition, filtering out unnecessary signals helps the goalkeeper stay focused throughout the match, despite the chaotic environment around him.

Visual control of the ball in the air is an important part of this process, but the sound that is generated when the ball is struck also plays a significant role.

The sound generated by the ball provides the goalkeeper with additional information about its trajectory and speed. The sound wave reaches the goalkeeper’s ears faster than the ball, allowing the goalkeeper to react to the impending kick even before he or she could visually notice a change in the ball’s trajectory.

However, as noted, the temporal relationship between visual and audible cues can vary depending on the position of the player taking the kick. This explains why goalkeepers process these cues separately rather than combining them. Goalkeepers most likely create a mental map of the ball’s movement by combining visual and auditory impressions to better predict its trajectory.

It is also important to consider that soccer goalkeepers are highly trained and experienced, allowing them to effectively use both types of cues to make quick and accurate decisions on the field. This aspect of their game emphasizes the complexity and versatility of a goalkeeper’s skills in a team game.

Footballer’s opinion

Ruslan Nigmatullin

former Spartak Moscow goalkeeper, children’s coach

For me, sound has never been an important component. I guess there is something like that at the instinct level, but by and large, when the stadium is full, it’s of no use.

The most important thing is visual perception. First of all, it is important to see the moment of impact with your eyes. Then there is an instant assessment of the speed of the ball and its approach. Visually it is perceived as a spot, and depending on the strength of the kick, it is more or less blurred.

If the goalkeeper is blocked by other players, this is a problem. You can only reflect the ball if you can see it. And I think you can play even with headphones on.

If the shot is strong and from close range, the goalkeeper sees it for just a moment, and then he decides where to meet the ball.

Of course, lighting and weather can play a role. The worse you see the ball, the more difficult it is to assess the trajectory, speed of flight and other components. For example, I hated playing in sunny weather because a ball hit directly into the sun falls out of sight. It’s disorienting. Sometimes it seems to the spectators that the ball flies into their hands, but it only comes to those goalkeepers who have seen the moment of the shot.