The Mental Game: Cognitive Training, Creativity, and Game Intelligence in Soccer

Not only are top players like Kevin De Bruyne or Luka Modric able to perceive everything that is happening around them, but they are also able to foresee the next game situations and react to them. This "mental speed" lays the foundation to building master performances in extremely complex game situations. The Mental Game outlines a theoretical framework in which anticipation, perception, attention, and memory processes play a big role in helping coaches and players better understand complex game situations and how to react in them. It also provides practical examples and more than 70 games for training sessions that will develop players' cognitive abilities. With sharper minds, players will win the mental game and become winning players on the field.

Prof. Dr. Daniel Memmert is managing director for the Institute for Exercise Training Science and Computer Science at the German Sports University in Cologne. His main research areas are movement science, sport psychology, and sport informatics. He holds trainer licenses in soccer, tennis, snowboarding, and alpine skiing and is the author of books on modern soccer training. In addition, he cooperates with national and international professional clubs, the German national team, and DAX companies and has organized the first international continuing education master’s program in Match Analysis.