Vision Traits

To help athletes improve their performance, See to Play breaks down the seven measurable vision traits, according to Dr. Michael Peters.

Visual acuity is the definition of how well you see.  20/20 is average for all of us.

20/20 is not the average for professional athlete.

For instance, a study revealed the average MLB player sees 20/12.  This means that the average person can read the smallest letter on a chart at 12 feet away while the MLB player can back up 8 more feet still read that same small letter it at 20 feet. 

20/8 is the best a human eye can see.

How do you get better than 20/20 vision.  Go to the eye doctor.  Wear your prescription glasses or contacts when required.  Protect your eyes from the sun. And eat green leafy vegetables with Lutein, Zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin (or supplements 10 mg/ 2 mg/ 2 mg

Elite athletes have larger areas of their best visual acuity. This is like a large HighDef TV compared to a smaller one.
Their vision can take in the full field with 2 gazes (movement of the eye) where the average person may take 4 to 6.

See To Play defines this high definition area of vision and discusses how to measure for it on athletes. Exercises are also described to help those athletes with smaller zones.

Extreme Side Vision (Peripheral Vision)

Elite Athletes have larger areas of side (peripheral) vision. See To Play defines how to measure this area and also provides exercises to help expand this area (as in the Card Swing exercise found in this website). Below is an NBA legend discussing the importance of side vision.

Eye Movement and Eye Focusing

Athletes need to bring their eyes in quickly to track a ball thrown at them in order to catch it. They have to keep the ball clear and in focus. Then, they have to be able to look to a distant target quickly in order to return the throw. See To Play discusses how athletes can be measured and compared in these areas. There are also exercises given to help improve athletes’ performance.

Athletes also need to train their gaze to keep their eyes up…so they will keep their head up…which decreases the likelihood of a hard hit that can cause a concussion. The See To Play Eye Baller exercise is a great tool for this type of training.

Below is a clip of an NHL player doing this type of exercising.

Eye, Hand and Body Coordination

Athletes improve their eye hand and body coordination during their hours of on the field practice and play. See To Play discusses how to use vision exercises to improve eye hand and body reflexes during times away from the field.

One such tool is the use of the Fit Light trainer pictured. This trainer flashes lights and athletes have to react quickly.

Below is a clip of NBA great Stephen Curry who is using the same tool in some of his off court exercises. You’ll see him dribbling and then waving his hand to react to the lights mounted on the wall. (He also uses tennis ball exercises like the ones described in See To Play.)

Visual Noise and Mental Preparation

Visual noise is defined as anything occurring around the athlete visually that disrupts the athlete’s task or performance.  It can be a simple as a bright to teams masking plays or fans going crazy in the back ground.  See To Play educates the reader about different types of visual noise.  The reader is also given many techniques to prepare for visual noise as well as techniques to mentally prepare for athletic performance by using visualization and meditation.

Below is a clip of the Curtain of Distraction used by the students of Arizona State basketball.  These students use this method of visual noise to distract opposing team players who are attempting freethrows.  The staff believes it’s an affective distraction that causes opposing teams to miss 2 to 6 points a game.