Soccer

What does soccer have to do with the brain? Everything, of course! In fact, there is a study that finds soccer players to have superior intelligence – and we're not talking about motor intelligence. Okay, the study is not entirely uncontroversial, but brilliant plays, the pass directly into the run, the overhead kick directly into the goal, and last but not least, the will to win: it's all in the mind. 

Admittedly, we do have some philistines in the editorial office who don't understand this. But even they have been observed slowly (very slowly) recognizing the beauty of a good game under expert guidance. 

This beauty may not only be found at the world-class level with million-dollar budgets – one of our articles visits a team of mentally disabled soccer players with their own training center. Another highlights the fundamental importance of motivation in sports. And what actually goes on in the mind of a coach?

But maybe you'll start with Jochen Müller's article: Don't think, just do it!