CONNECTING OUR EYES, BRAIN, AND BODY CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
The Science Behind How Athletes See The World
The skill that combines all the basic abilities of the Sports Vision Pyramid
You might think that athletes have superhuman vision. After all, they often make unbelievable plays while under intense pressure. In fact, they do have sharper vision than the average of 20/20, they can detect lower levels of contrast, and have better depth perception.
But the truth is, they have an additional ability that most of us don’t have. Research has shown that the human eye is capable of processing information at lightning-fast speeds — up to 12 images per second. So, what do athletes have that allows them to make such amazing plays?
It all comes down to using their vision to train and practice. By spending countless hours using their vision in their sport, athletes are able to develop what scientists call “pattern recognition.” This allows them to quickly identify relevant cues in their game and make accurate split-second decisions.
For example, a footballer will quickly scan the pitch and make a decision about where to pass the ball. A quarterback will quickly read the defense to find an open receiver.
While the average person doesn’t need to make such split-second decisions, pattern recognition can be useful in many everyday situations. For example, when driving, you quickly scan the road for potential hazards. Or, when looking for a friend in a crowded room, you quickly scan faces until you find the right one.
The ability to rapidly and accurately recognize patterns results from both nature and nurture. Studies of twins have shown that vision is about 60% heritable, meaning that genetics plays a significant role. But the other 40% is due to other factors, such as the time spent practicing your sport.
This is why some people are naturally better at pattern recognition than others. Fortunately, with enough practice, anyone can improve their ability to quickly and accurately identify relevant cues in their environment.
So, the next time you see an athlete make a fantastic catch or shot, remember that it’s not just their vision that’s special — it’s also their training, practice, and especially how they use their combined elite visual abilities.
Would you like to learn more about how your eyes can help you play better in your sport? Sign up for my 5-day FREE Email course by clicking here (safe link to my website).
