The Auditory Edge for football
Football’s unmeasured communication variable
Players are expected to hear, process and act across training pitches, tactical briefings, match-day noise, fatigue, travel and multilingual squads.
Yet the auditory route through which information reaches the player is rarely assessed in a structured way.
- Noisy training environments
- Tactical briefings
- Match-day pressure and crowd noise
- Fatigue and travel
- Multilingual squads
Instruction to action
The communication chain in football
The human communication chain runs in five ordered stages: 1. Instruction. 2. Hearing. 3. Processing. 4. Understanding. 5. Action.
- 1
Instruction
- 2
Hearing
- 3
Processing
- 4
Understanding
- 5
Action
Football depends on information reaching the player clearly and quickly.
EAC considers the player, the communication environment and how important information is delivered — helping clubs understand where clarity may be lost before information becomes action.
PACE
Player Auditory Communication Evaluation
PACE is EAC’s bespoke auditory communication framework for elite football.
It is designed to help clubs better understand how players access spoken information across training, tactical, match-day and other demanding communication environments.
The approach is designed around international squads, elite-performance schedules and the need to minimise disruption.
What PACE considers
01Ear health
Relevant ear-health factors that may affect access to spoken information.
02Hearing sensitivity
A baseline understanding of the player’s access to relevant sounds and speech.
03Hearing in noise
A language-independent assessment of auditory performance in noise, helping reduce reliance on English-language ability.
04Subjective communication profile
Bespoke insight into how the player experiences communication across relevant football environments.
05Performance environment
The potential influence of noise, distance, information delivery and other communication demands.
06Actionable reporting
Clear insight and prioritised considerations for relevant medical, coaching, performance and facilities teams.
PACE is more than a conventional hearing assessment, but the website intentionally provides only a high-level overview of the framework.
Where PACE could be relevant
- Pre-season baseline
- New-player baselines
- International and multilingual squads
- Demanding communication environments
- Ongoing performance partnerships
Outputs
What the club receives
The objective is not to label players. It is to give the club clearer information and a practical route forward.
- Individual and squad-level auditory communication insight
- Identification of relevant ear-health or hearing concerns
- Greater visibility of demanding communication environments
- Appropriate clinical actions and onward-referral considerations
- Practical insight for medical, coaching, performance and facilities teams
- A clear view on whether further assessment or continuity would add value
Could auditory communication be an unmeasured variable at your club?
Email Richard with your role, your club and the communication question you would like to explore.