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Psychokinetics.

A new method of training; technical overview; the learning process; progression

and workloads.

This article was published in the Spring edition of the "Notiziario Tecnico", the coaching

magazine of the Italian Soccer Federation.

The evolution of the game of soccer in the last 5 to 10 years has greatly limited the

players' space on the field, consequently, the time they have to "play" the ball is muchshorter. This change has also radically modified the process of thinking, and therefore the

way players behave on the field of play. It was not long ago when the players' thinking

process was to create a situation after they had the ball under control. In today's gameplayers must find a solution to any situation before they get the ball. As a consequence,

they must be physically and mentally fit, able to execute technical and tactical exercises

at high speed, and above all, read and react to any situation during a game. After all, the

mental reaction is the best quality of an above average player to solve quickly andappropriately difficult game situations. At this point a question comes to mind: "Are

these mental qualities trainable, or are they part of the genetic heritage of an athlete." Mr.Iaconi believes that the genetic heritage is the basic ingredient in the development andformation of a good player, or athlete, but he also feels that a more accurate and planned

preparation of the mental capabilities is not only helpful, but also necessary.

In any sports activity, the cognitive capabilities may have an impact on both the athletes'

learning process as well as their performance. In soccer, specifically, all actions are

subjected to an almost endless tactical variability: "Where is the ball; where are myteammates; where are the opponents; where is the goal; in what part of the field am I?"

These are only few of the questions players have to answer all the times during a game,

and their answers must be immediate; therefore, we can say that soccer is characterized

by a large number of combinations of movements with, and above all, without the ball,whether the team is attacking or defending. These are questions that the players, based on

their knowledge and previous experiences, must give correct and pertinent motor answers

to. A modern training methodology must therefore take into consideration not only theeffects (pass, shot, heading, etc.) which are the motor answers, but also the causes

(mental formulation of the motor answer, creation of the motor process, and the

verification of the previous experiences.) Mental preparation, which comprises memory,perception, capability to analyze a situation, and concentration, are qualities and attitudes,

which derive from the genetic heritage of the individual. This heritage must be tutored

and integrated into the training along with tactics, techniques, and physical fitness.

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Psychokinetics is primarily used away from the game, especially during the pre-seasonpreparation. This initial intense work is a valid starting point for a gradual learning

process during which the exercises are gradually becoming more demanding and

difficult. They should not last more than 10-15 minutes, and have adequate rest periods.The margins for improvement are very high, and in an atmosphere where the players

work together, there are limitless measures to improve their intellectual abilities. The

human mind has unimaginable qualities, and in soccer, as well as in sports in general, the

future is in searching, and studying new training methodologies which will stimulate theplayers to reach, or strive for the highest level of the human psyche.

Didactical progression and workloads

When a coach introduces into his training sessions some psychokinetic activities, he must

pay particular attention to the work and the workloads he uses. An excessive workload onthe central nervous system can create a state of confusion and insecurity in the players'

owns capabilities. The players must be fully aware of what they are doing, and the

reasons why they perform specific exercises. At the outset, psychokinetic exercises mustbe simple in order to give the players time to understand the situations, and come-up with

a propre motor answer. In subsequent sessions, the coach must provide a logicalprogression of the work as proposed to improve the players' retention of the different

situations as they develop. Furthermore, by repeating the exercises, the players will beable to memorize the same concepts they had elaborated in other exercises, and utilize

them in other exercises whether similar, or different. After the exercise have been

completed the coach will be able to evaluate how the players are learning, and decidewhether the repeat the session, or increase the workload, and widen the objectives.