FC Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez is seen by many as the Einstein of Football. His vision and awareness provide the perfect example for young players who aspire to develop a deep understanding of the game. These skills, combined with a level of technical ability rarely surpassed, have led to Xavi engineering some of the most unique, creative and exciting goals in world football.
“When you arrive at Barcelona the first thing they teach you is: think. Think, think, and think quickly. Lift your head up, move your head, see, and think. Look before you get the ball. If you’re getting this pass, look to see if that guy is free, make a decision before you get the ball”
– Xavi Hernandez, FC Barcelona
The above quote leads to a broad question: What is awareness and how do we interpret it in the football world? The Oxford Dictionary offers two definitions on the topic:
- Knowledge or perception of a situation or fact: i.e. ‘we need to raise public awareness of the issue’
- Concern about and well-informed interest in a particular situation or development: i.e. ‘a growing medical awareness’.
A common denominator between these two definitions is that they highlight knowledge, perception and well-informed interest (or curiosity).
However, these definitions do not highlight the importance of thinking or decision-making, yet modern coaches when working with their players on awareness will constantly speak of this. So, is the definition wrong or are coaches misinterpreting it?
When we examine Spanish superstar Xavi Hernandez we can investigate football awareness at its peak. Xavi has been educated within Barcelona’s famous La Masia, where he learned to love playing an attractive style of football. Fellow Barcelona star Dani Alves has been quoted as saying, ‘Xavi plays in the future.’
Xavi in the European Championships 2012 , Spain vs France. Photo: Football.UA
Intelligence and awareness are what separate Xavi from many other promising technical centre midfield players. More often than not, Xavi will not try to force the play. Instead, he will pass the ball patiently with his eyes and head in the air waiting for subtle movements, allowing him an opportunity to play a clever pass to create a goal-scoring opportunity for his team. Interestingly, during the last three major tournaments that Spain won (Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012) they managed to score six goals in those finals. Of these six goals scored, Xavi provided the assist for three of them. Xavi is known for his high level of knowledge, which helps him to perceive the game in a different light. This is what allows him to produce the most crucial passes at the highest level of football where the stakes are high and the pressure to win is enormous.
As coaches, we all attend courses on our developmental journey. Have you ever come away from a course thinking your newfound knowledge has enabled you to be an even better player? Have you ever had a coach whose knowledge lifted your game to the next level? Thinking back to the Oxford Dictionary’s definition, if we’ve experienced these things then we have improved knowledge and therefore improved awareness. So in theory we could just deliver coaching courses to our players and the job would be done, right?
Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. Football players need to be able to understand, focus on and interpret informational cues while they play the game. When you watch Xavi closely, examine how much information he’s taking in, how fast he makes decisions and how through years of technical development and training, he has the ability to tear defensive structures apart all because of his high level of game awareness.
Understanding the game tactically and applying technical skills requires a high level of perceptual skills and awareness. Good perceptual skills allow us to make accurate decisions based on the information gained from the picture we see before us (in Xavi’s case, the ability to see things at a speed that others may not). This helps players know what sort of outcomes could occur during any moment – should I head, volley or chest the ball? Game-like environments, good coaching detail and the freedom to experiment will allow future players to grow in this area.
It is important that players know how to interpret and process the information they are getting while playing and then link this with situational probabilities (in-game options) which in turn will hopefully give them an accurate outcome, i.e. a successful pass, cross, header, dribble, shot, interception, tackle.
Professor Mark Williams, a lecturer and author famous for his papers on awareness, speaks of the importance of game realism, the perceptual skill that the players should be looking to acquire can only be developed in- game, alongside tactical and technical mastery. For the coach, if it is not done in a game then why teach it to the players? If the scenarios created within training are not in a realistic, game-like setting it will not help the players.
Ultimately, the modern coach and player need to be students of the game. This will help them see early pictures and dissect the scenario in front of them quickly enough to make a confident decision. The point we all need to consider is that the actual outcome may not always be a positive one due to the fact that the timing or technique is wrong as well as other factors; for example, the player’s awareness may be excellent but they lack the skill to play the pass they’ve seen. As coaches we need to recognise this and work closely with our players to better understand their intentions. Only then can we create the environment for our players to excel.
When he is not playing he is watching football all the time. He will become a coach. I’m sure. No doubts. If he stays at home he will get bored. He has got a lot of knowledge and I hope he can be Barcelona’s manager in the future. – Pep Guardiola on Xavi
Xavi (left) and Carles Puyol lift the La Liga trophy. Photo: © Maxisports
Over time, coaches have tried to help players’ awareness by focusing their attention on coloured wristbands and coloured headbands. Conditioned games are also commonplace. Exercises such as silent football, games with no bibs, players holding rulers under their chins, using multiple footballs, coloured cones, simulation boards and changing lights have all been used. All of these activities had one purpose: to increase a player’s awareness in order to assist the constantly evolving decision-making process.
Whilst all of these methods have been tried and tested in the past, the only effective way for a player to advance their football awareness is within realistic game-based scenarios, under pressure where they are required to make decisions and assess information at speed.
However, the challenge for us as coaches is to focus our player’s attention on the best information. Ask yourself, is this information relevant? Are you adapting your information for individual players? Most importantly, awareness is something that develops with time and creating appropriate coaching environments for players to see pictures, try new things and fail along the way.
Top Tips for Coaching Awareness
1. Create an environment where players are put in game-like scenarios so their decisions are realistic.
2. Understand your players intentions to ensure you can assist their development and make your environment relevant to their needs.
3. Give players freedom to experiment and make decisions under pressure.
4. Be a student of the game and take any opportunities for professional development so you can better affect your players.
Cover Image: Marc Puig i Perez
