Speed of the game - Home - FIFA Training Centre

Introducing the series with Colbert

The game waits for no one. This opening article lays the foundations for the series, exploring how reception-to-distribution quality shapes the tempo of the game, and why individual technique and awareness drive high-speed, fluid football.

Part 2

How alertness and anticipation develop tactical awareness

This article centres on different qualities within the tactical awareness family, the umbrella term for a group of attributes that, when combined, make up this essential component of a football player's DNA.

Part 3

A clear picture of the game leads to good decision-making

Discover why players must have spatial, positional and peripheral awareness on the pitch to have a clear game picture. See how top players read the game, act before opponents can, and turn split-second scanning into decisive moments.

Part 4

Turning the game forward under pressure

Let’s explore the art of ball reception using technical and tactical attributes. This article highlights the technique, awareness and composure needed to move the ball quickly under pressure and change the game in a heartbeat.

Part 5

The minimalistic beauty of one-touch football

In the final article, we analyse moments of pure footballing quality when a first-touch pass is the end product of some, or all of the qualities discussed in this series of articles relating to a player’s time on the ball, impacting the speed of the game.