Contrast Sensitivity Challenge II (Hockey)
Improve dynamic visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and focused attention.
Equipment: Paint or purchase a puck, ball or object that is similar to the color of the background it is used on; for example, use a white puck for ice hockey or use a green ball for field hockey.
Procedure: Practice regular drills in low contrast conditions by substituting, for example, a normal black puck with a white puck. Build up to 10 minutes of practice with similarly colored object.
3 Air Force Exercises to Improve Your Vision Athletes at the Air Force Academy have been performing cadet vision training exercises for more than a decade, with impressive results. The first year the baseball team used vision training, they led the nation in batting average. Since then, Air Force athletes have achieved better than 20/20 vision and improved vision drill scores by 200 to 300 percent. Get your own results with these three vision drills!
Saccadic Drill
Why do it? Enhances eye stamina and focus, which pilots need to complete precision maneuvers and athletes need for games. How to do it:
Assume sport-specific stance in front of two different letter charts located 10 feet apart.
Call out first letter on left chart, then rapidly move eyes to read first letter on right chart.
Progress down both charts as quickly as possible.
Sets/Duration: 2x60 seconds, 1-2x per week
Eye-Hand Speed Drill
Why do it? Develops hand-eye coordination and improves ability to make split-second decisions. How to do it:
Assume athletic stance holding irregularly-shaped rubber reaction ball
Bounce ball off hard surface and catch
Change speed or distance to adjust difficulty
Can be performed alone or with a partner
Sets/Reps: 4x8-12 with 1- to 2-minute rest between sets, 1-2x per week
Accommodation Drill
Why do it? Improves eye focus far and near. How to do it:
Stand 20 feet away from 36-point letter wall chart; hold nine-point letter chart about six inches from eyes
Position hand-held chart slightly below wall chart in line of sight
Call out first letter on wall chart, then rapidly refocus to call out first letter of hand-held chart
Progress through both charts as quickly as possible
Sets/Duration: 2x60 seconds, 1-2x per week
