Visual function of English Premier League soccer players

Abstract

Purpose: Examine visual function of soccer players of different skill level and playing position. Methods: Elite players from an English Premier League soccer club (n=49) and intermediate players (n=31) completed an assessment on a Nike SPARQ Sensory Station of: static and dynamic visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, accommodative-vergence facility, target capture and perception span. Results: There was no difference between elite and intermediate players for all measures. However, competitive soccer players (elite, intermediate) did exhibit better performance in acuity-based measures of visual function and accommodative-vergence compared to a population of healthy non-athletic adults (n=230). With regards to player position, defensive players showed quicker accommodative-vergence facility compared to offensive players. Conclusion: Visual function of competitive soccer players is superior to non-athletic adults, but does not differentiate the elite and intermediate player. However, defensive players do exhibit faster accommodative-vergence than offensive players. We suspect that this particular visual function is advantageous for defenders given the greater demand to continually shift gaze between players located at near and far locations.

The Effect of Visual Function on the Batting Performance of Professional Baseball Players

“…Additionally, shooting success was noted to decrease with reduced visualization of the basket 3 . In soccer, the visual function of English Premier League soccer players was found to be superior to that of normal adults 4 , while the visual tracking ability of Brazilian soccer players was found to be superior in more skilled players as compared to less skilled players 5 . In motorsport, elite academy participants from New Zealand were noted to have superior visual acuity as well as perception time when compared to sex and age-matched controls 6 .…”

Static and dynamic visual acuity and refractive errors in elite football players

“…Other studies, with field players, have been focused on young players rather than professional players . Recently, Roberts et al published a study that analysed 49 elite players from an English Premier League, and concluded that the visual function of competitive soccer players is superior to non‐athletic adults, but does not differentiate the elite and intermediate player. The research in these studies was focused on perceptual skills, eye–foot co‐ordination or reaction time instead of visual skills.…”

Visual Abilities Distinguish Level of Play in Rugby

“…Based on the results of accommodation facility, previous research by Ghasemi et al (2009), and Jafarzadehpur and Yarigholi (2004) has found similar differences in accommodation facility when comparing experts and novices, albeit in soccer referees and table tennis champions, respectively (10,11). However, Roberts et al (2017) found no difference in accommodation facility when comparing novice and expert soccer players (12). Interestingly, expert athletes, when compared to novices, may have an increased accommodation facility due to having a better developed visual system that allows a quicker and more efficient adjustment of their eyes from a far to a near target (12).…”

“…Interestingly, expert athletes, when compared to novices, may have an increased accommodation facility due to having a better developed visual system that allows a quicker and more efficient adjustment of their eyes from a far to a near target (12). This more efficient adjustment may allow experts to better track objects like a ball in rugby (12).…”