See More, React Faster
Regardless of sport, better vision makes you a better athlete: picking up the seams on a curveball, seeing a teammate cut to the hoop, or timing your header better. Tear out the charts on the following pages and follow the instructions to see your timing and reactions improve.
React Faster in Five Minutes a Day
Your eyes are controlled by muscles. Dr. Alan Reichow from Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR, says you can train these muscles just like you train your other muscles. Improve your ability to see a moving ball or a teammate, and you’ll react faster. Period. Dr. Reichow recalls what former Minnesota Vikings WR Jake Reed told him after working on his vision: “When I come off my break, I see the ball so early that I feel like I have to wait for it to get to me.” That season, Reed and future Hall of Fame WR Cris Carter broke the single season record for combined receiving yards.
See Everything Sooner
Actually, you’re not really improving your reaction time. It just seems like it. In fact, you’re actually seeing the ball (or whatever) earlier. So you’re actually giving your brain more time to react.
The Eye Shuttle
You’ve run the shuttle, right? Back and forth as fast as you can. Same concept here, except you’re shuttling your gaze back and forth. The Eye Shuttle trains your eyes to point to a target faster, and teaches them to focus faster.
Instructions
Put the far chart (page 19) up on a wall 20 feet away. Hold the near chart about a foot from your face (bent arm’s distance). Read out loud the first letter from the near chart, then the first letter from the far chart, second letter from the near chart, second letter from the far chart. Repeat for 30 seconds. Record how many letters you called out. Five minutes every day. You’ll see improvement in a week.
Mix It Up
As you get faster with Level 1, move on to Level 2 and 3. Get in a stance that you’d use in a game (like a batter’s stance or defensive stance) Add game motions: Dribble a basketball. Stand on one leg. Run on a treadmill. Move the near chart in circles so you have to track its motion.
Click here for a printable training chart.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
How do we get the level 2 and 3 full charts. I was looking on the internet and couldn’t seem to find it.
March 12th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Luke - Level 2 and 3 in this case refers more to the body positions you’d use in the sport you play. For example, if a baseball player, you’d stand as if at home plate and look to the side toward the big chart. If a wide receiver, you might look back over your shoulder at the chart. This works your eyes and your brains ability to track as it will need to during a game. Have fun with it. As long as you are focusing on some small elements up close and something else with detail far away, you are SPARQ Training your eyes and mind!
March 15th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
i don’t understand you say 30 seconds, and then 5 minutes. do you mean 30 seconds 10 times?
May 20th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Curtis - yep, 10 sets of 30 second intervals. Take a short break after each set to relax your eyes.
October 24th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Is this good for Hockey players
November 29th, 2007 at 1:23 am
How much more would it help if i did it 10 minutes a day.
December 7th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Tyler - Like any workout, tailor it to your body. Just pay attention to how your eyes are feeling, and don't strain them too much.
December 11th, 2007 at 1:47 am
I am living in Beijing, China and would like to know if there are any nike stores in Beijing that sell any SPARQ equipment. Thanks
December 12th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Jack - we don't have any SPARQ product in China as yet, however, you can go to Eastbay.com for a complete assortment of gear.
May 21st, 2008 at 8:09 am
cannot print out chart