Advertisement
DIY disasters
Hammers, drills, ladders. Handy things, if you have the know-how. And deadly if you don't.
Run, Ferdi, run!
Ferdi, unfit and 33, is preparing for the Comrades Marathon. Read his hilarious blog.
     TERMS     GET A DAILY HEALTH TIP  
  
MAKE HEALTH24 YOUR HOMEPAGE   
H24 NEWS MEDICAL SCHEMES DIET FITNESS NATURAL MAN WOMAN SEX PREGNANCY CHILD TEEN SUN
FOCUS CENTRES MEDS ORAL PET MIND GRAPHICS VIDEOS ANTI-AGEING CELEBRITIES WIN TOOLS EXPERTS TALK
DO THIS:TEST YOURSELFGREAT FITNESS GUIDESI WANT TO...
 Ball Sense
To become a top soccer player, you not only need certain physical attributes, you may also have to work on your visual skills and your hand-eye coordination.

Eyesight is what we see (20/20 vision) whereas visual skills involve what we do with what we see. The visual system is linked to the brain in complex ways that influence things you do on the field. These skills will give the soccer player an edge over other players not using this kind of training.

Well-known South African sport scientist Dr Sherylle Calder, grabbed by the British rugby team to enhance their visual skills and awareness, compiled this section.

Click on the links on the left for a description of some of the visual skills needed for games like soccer and rugby.

01. Dynamic visual acuity
In any sport it is important for the player to clearly see the ball/opponents while moving fast during play. Dynamic visual acuity is necessary and is a skill that can be trained.
Read
02. Eye tracking
In the game of cricket, rugby or soccer, which involves a moving ball/opponent, it is important to be able to follow the ball/players without using much head movement.
Read
03. Focus ability
The split second that it takes the player to change focus from a player far away to the ball near or vice versa may impede reaction time and the performance of the player.
Read
04. Depth perception
In cricket, rugby and soccer, depth perception enables you to quickly and accurately judge the distance between yourself, the ball, your opponents and team-mates.
Read
05. Peripheral vision
When a player sees a team-mate out of the corner of his eye, the player is using his peripheral vision.
Read
06. Visual reaction time
Quick reactions often influence the result of a game. This involves the eyes seeing the action, giving the message to the brain to interpret and providing the correct response.
Read
07. Visual concentration
A player's eyes normally react to anything that happens in their field of vision, be it opponents, their own players etc.
Read
08. Visual memory
The player needs to process and remember how everyone else is positioned on the field. The visual skill needed for this is called visual memory.
Read
09. Visualisation
Visualisation is the skill that enables you to see yourself performing well in your "mind's eye" while your eyes are seeing and concentrating on something else.
Read
10. Eye-hand-body co-ordination
Eye-hand-body co-ordination is how your feet and body and other muscles respond to the information gathered through your eyes.
Read

 Sponsored links
 Health24 links

Advertisement