Left or right? Early clues to soccer penalty kicks revealed
Thursday, June 24, 2010 - 11:32
in Earth & Climate
In the split second before foot meets ball, a soccer player's body betrays whether a penalty kick will go left or right, according to recent research in cognitive science. The findings could explain how some top goalkeepers are able to head off a penalty kick, diving in the correct direction in advance of the kick. It could also point the way to changes in how players kick, and goalies react.