• Gatorade now has an official presence on the sidelines for both the UEFA Champions League and EA SPORTS FC™25, blending the real and virtual worlds of football.
• To celebrate its expanded partnership with two of the world's hottest football platforms, Gatorade is fuelling peak physical and mental performance from the sidelines by highlighting the power of #TheNod—an unspoken gesture that drives teamwork and success on the field.
• #TheNod is one of the most powerful tools used by footballers to get ahead of competitors, according to Gatorade, Manchester City football players and Sport Psychologist.
• Analysis of Manchester City's use of non-verbal cues (NVCs) revealed a clear link to team performance, with the team recording over 100 NVCs per winning match during the 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League.
• City players, Ilkay Gundogan, Ruben Dias and Rodri, the 68^th winner of the Ballon d'Or, have backed the importance of the nod and NVCs in an interview with Gatorade.

LONDON, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This season, Gatorade is seizing the sidelines of both the UEFA Champions League and select in-game matches of EA SPORTS FC™ 25. Bridging the real and virtual worlds of football, Gatorade will feature cooling equipment and squeeze bottles to emphasise the essential role of hydration in enhancing both mental and physical performance. The brand's presence is complete with dedicated LED boards showcasing the Gatorade brand. Gatorade's global sponsorships are a powerful reminder that optimal hydration sparks the greatest of what's inside you, empowering everyone to perform at their best and fulfil their potential. 

To celebrate its expanded partnership with two of the world's biggest football properties, Gatorade has teamed up with Manchester City and players Rodrigo Hernández Cascante (Rodri), İlkay Gündoğan, and Rúben Dias to reveal football's secret to peak team performance —#TheNod. As the ultimate drive for both mental and physical readiness, Gatorade empowers players with the confidence and energy needed to make #TheNod count when it matters most. From the sidelines to the penalty box, players claim a nod is much more than a simple gesture and is a powerful signal of confidence, readiness, and determination that can tip the balance between winning and losing.

According to Manchester City Sport Psychologist, David Young, non-verbal cues (NVCs) are an effective way for professional footballers tosporti communicate strategically on the pitch. Scanning the field, raising an arm, and pointing a finger are well-known forms of tactical non-verbal communication in sports. However, today, Gatorade reveals that the real secret superpower for footballers on the pitch is the simple nod of the head. Watch Rodri, Gündoğan, and Dias discuss the significance of this often-overlooked tactic on the pitch in Gatorade's latest film HERE.

Committed to fuelling players' success from the sidelines, Gatorade conducted in-depth analysis of Manchester City's use of the nod, revealing a clear link between team success and the frequency of non-verbal gestures on the pitch. By driving both mental and physical performance, Gatorade enables the confidence behind these critical gestures, helping players achieve peak performance on the pitch.

Examining the total usage, context, and patterns of NVCs during Manchester City's 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League matches, the research revealed:

• Tactical Sign Language: Over 1,000 NVCs were used by the boys in blue across their eight games of the season, creating a rich on-field language of distinct behaviours (scanning, pointing, nodding and raised arms).
• Nods for the Win: In matches where Manchester City players used 100+ NVCs, the team won 100% of their games with "nods" increasing 33%.
• "The Midfield Radar": Midfielders like Ballon d'Or winner, Rodri, and Bernardo Silva lead the team in scanning, with approximately 20 and 15 scans per match, respectively.
• Goals for Gestures: Where three or more goals were scored, the team's use of NVCs increased by 19%.
• Tactical Telepathy: Defenders and midfielders exchange the most silent gestures, with over 50% of all recorded NVCs involving at least one player from these positions.
• Defensive Success: Manchester City's use of NVCs increased by 13.2% in games where they conceded one or no goals.
• Player's Secret Superpower: The top five NVC users – Rodri, Rúben Dias, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker – averaged +45 cues per match and had a 7.5% greater game score on average vs. players who used the gestures less.

Rodri, the 68^th winner of the coveted Ballon d'Or award, talks about his use of #TheNod and NVCs in the Gatorade film. The player currently rated as the very best in the world said: "The non-verbal communication is very important in the sport we do. Gestures between teammates help to build the effort and mentality of the team. When you see a guy suffering, these things can help a lot. We're all human beings, when you see a confident face, it helps. It's very important."

Manchester City's Sport Psychologist, David Young, said: "Non-verbal cues are often overlooked, but they can give us an insight into the current emotional state of individuals, as well as potentially enhancing cohesion and performance.  Research shows that behaviours on pitch like nodding, scanning and other physical movements can influence individual and team performance. It helps build bonds within teams, and if applied effectively, it can help both athletes and coaches convey important messages during both training and games – especially in high-stake environments where you don't want to let your opponents know what you're planning.

"At Manchester City, we look to build confidence within the team and the impactful use of NVCs is a key part of that. It helps players know they have each other's backs, and all understand the challenge in front of them. We've all seen how intense a game can be, especially in the UEFA Champions League season, so whether it's on the sidelines or in the heart of the action, a nod can really make all the difference."

As part of its multi-year partnership, Gatorade has issued a rallying cry to the sporting and gaming communities to celebrate this often-overlooked gesture and showcase how NVCs, like the nod fuel them to success. Gatorade powers peak mental and physical performance from the sidelines, sparking #TheNod for players to achieve the best.

Adam Warner, Vice President of Global Sports and Entertainment Partnerships, said: "UEFA and EA SPORTS FC™ 25 are two of the most prominent brands in football, and we're thrilled to be present on the sidelines, showcasing the impact of hydration in helping players achieve peak mental and physical performance. Our iconic squeeze bottles will be visible on the sidelines also—both in real life and in the virtual world. At Gatorade, we understand what fuels players on the pitch, and through our collaboration with Manchester City, we uncovered this underestimated tactic. We hope this insight will inspire both gaming and footballing communities to level up their game by embracing the power of the nod."

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¹Gatorade conducted game data analysis of Manchester City's UEFA Champion's League games from the 2023/2024 season. The analysis measured the team's use of non-verbal cues (i.e. nodding, scanning, raised hands etc.), individual player performance and match success across the team's eight matches: The analysis was conducted manually between September and October 2024.

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