| Vision Demand in Sport | |
| |
In most sports the major sensory input (What information is used by the participant) that leads to the motor response (The action taken by the participant) is visual; in football for example it is estimated that 75 to 80% of the information used by players is visual. However, regardless of the preponderance of visual input in a sport the key aspect is its specificity; understanding visual demand in a specific sport is therefore the first essential step in delivering efficient vision care to people practicing the sport. At MICHEL GUILLON SPORTS VISION CLINIC the understanding of visual demand in a sport starts from building an in depth knowledge of in the sport. It is best if the practitioner involved has practiced the sport, but failing this is a keen interest as a spectator is an essential starting point. The systematic analysis of visual demands is a proprietary approach based upon consideration of a range of key elements (e. g. central vs. peripheral vision, time constraint. etc.).
Analysis of visual demand is quite complex and can vary within a sport, for example in football the visual demands of a midfield player are different to those of the goalkeeper or even a winger. Visual demand findings can be surprising to the uninitiated; two good examples are football and tennis:
· In football many involved think that a precise detailed central vision is not an essential requirement, as the object of interest, the ball, is large and easily seen. In fact, judging the ball trajectory based on its speed, spin and direction in order to receive it in the best conditions puts the highest demand on the central vision requiring sharp images on the retina and precise teaming of the two eyes to achieve the highest level of depth perception needed.
· In tennis the impression is that the only requirement is on central vision: the player “keeps his eyes on the ball at all times” and plays the ball. In fact peripheral vision (sometimes called peripheral awareness) is essential to observe the movement of the opponent or partner and decides upon which side and / or depth to return the ball. |
|
| SPORTS VISION What is Sports Vision? Vision Demand in Sport Four Phase Management of Vision in Sport Specialised Instrumentation Management of Elite Athletes | |