WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO TRACK A BALL?

Following a moving target on the field or court during a game requires a great synchronization of 2 different types of eye movements that together lead to proficiency in tracking, or dynamic acuity. They are called rapid saccades and smooth pursuit.

RAPID SACCADES
Rapid saccades are fast movements of the eyes that abruptly change the eyes’ point of focus. Saccades can be very small (i.e. changing focus from one letter to the next while reading) or they can be large (i.e. shifting focus on a game field). They allow to locate an object and align the eyes’ focus with that object. 

While the saccades are extremely fast, there is always a delay between the movement of an object and the saccadic movement of the eye following that object. This delay is about 200ms. Additionally, while the eyes are moving, performing a saccade, no visual transmission happens between the eyes and the brain. We ultimately do not perceive the object until the saccadic movement has ceased and the eyes have rested. The better the execution of the saccades, the easier the object of interest can be located. In case of a moving object, this happens over and over in a very fast sequence.

As soon as the object is detected and the eyes’ focus is aligned, the next type of eye movement takes over, bridging the lack of visibility between any two saccades. 

SMOOTH PURSUIT
Smooth Pursuit movements - slower tracking movements that allow the eyes to keep focus on the moving target without losing its picture during the movement. Eyes with lowered ability to execute smooth pursuit end up executing a series of saccades instead. When that happens the player loses a continuous image of the object (i.e. ball) and is left dealing with a series of voluntary corrective saccades. That costs the player valuable time, lowers their ability to efficiently analyze the situation, and slows down their desired reaction.  

The drills in this section of the Performance Training help develop both the Rapid Saccades and the Smooth Pursuit to maximize the player’s ability to quickly locate and track a moving target. Combined with the ability to analyze the changing position or distance of the object, the athlete improves their ability to correctly perceive the object’s speed of movement.