17 February 2026
F&Knowledge
The Human Being in Numbers – Why Performance Requires Energy
PART I – Reality in Numbers
Every footballer – whether a child, an amateur, or a professional – does not move by muscles alone. Their thoughts direct energy – and that energy governs movement. Movement does not begin in the muscle. It begins with orientation. The human body is not an isolated mechanism, but a living system in constant change. Everything that becomes visible in the game – tempo, precision, timing, calmness or agitation – arises from internal processes that are continuously at work. A look at the numbers makes this clear:- Breaths per day: approx. 17,000–25,000
- Air volume per day: approx. 10,000–12,000 liters
- Cells in the body: approx. 30–40 trillion
- Neurons in the brain: approx. 86 billion
- Connections in the nervous system: 100–1,000 trillion
- Thoughts per day: around 60,000
Thoughts as Directed Energy
Thoughts are not abstract ideas. They have an effect. A simple comparison makes this understandable: Thoughts behave like electric current in a circuit.- clear thoughts → stable energy flow
- disordered thoughts → energy loss
- chronic stress → overload and blockage
- fast decisions require a free flow of energy
- uncertainty slows movement before it becomes visible
- concentration is not a talent, but a regulatable state
Breathing – the Direct Control Interface
Breathing is the most direct factor influencing the internal state. It connects the external world with the interior of the body. It is the only process that:- runs automatically
- and can be consciously controlled
PART II – Structure and Context
Performance Emerges from Interaction
The human organism functions as a finely tuned interaction of:- breathing
- nervous system
- perception
- decision-making
- movement
- a technically strong player can freeze under pressure
- a physically less dominant player can act with superiority
Energy Flow and Decision in the Game
In football, decisions are made extremely quickly:- reaction time in play: approx. 200–350 milliseconds
- visual decision: often under 150 milliseconds
- muscle activation follows only afterwards
- timing
- precision
- decisive execution
The Human Being as a Dynamic System
The human body responds continuously to external conditions:- sounds
- movement of other players
- changes in space
- pressure situations
Practical Relevance for YouNr1
For training, this knowledge means:- technique alone is not sufficient
- repetition without internal focus reinforces uncertainty
- match performance arises from the interaction of energy, perception, and decision
- 1-vs-1 situations under decision pressure
- shooting techniques with mental preparation
- methods for consolidating learned skills without a pitch
- formats for training despite time constraints
Outlook
If thoughts and breathing influence the energy state, the next logical question arises: How can breathing be used deliberately to stabilize and enhance performance in football? This question leads directly to the next article.The content presented is based on established findings from physiology, neuroscience, and sport psychology (e.g., Guyton & Hall; Kandel et al.; Schmidt & Lee; Weinberg & Gould; West).
Compact References
- Guyton, A. C. & Hall, J. E.: Textbook of Medical Physiology.
- Kandel, E. R. et al.: Principles of Neural Science.
- Schmidt, R. A. & Lee, T. D.: Motor Control and Learning.
- Weinberg, R. S. & Gould, D.: Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology.
- West, J. B.: Respiratory Physiology: The Essentials.
Reduced SEO Version (Compact)
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