ABSTRACT
This chapter stresses the relevance of visual perception in football. Gibson’s (1979) ecological approach of visual perception provides the theoretical framework for the conducted video-based field studies in researching football players’ scanning. The results of the studies reveal visual scanning frequency to be a valid predictor for successful passes as well as changes in a player’s body orientation, which are both mediated by opponent pressure. Within this context, it has to be mentioned that scanning should not be analysed without considering further contextual variables such as a player’s pitch position. Based on the received insights, some practical implications are proposed. Overall, the analysis of visual scanning helps to decode the visual mechanisms underlying the various performance indicators. Investigating a player’s scanning enables one to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of previously neglected details within a football match.
