August 13, 2024

The Importance of Eye-Hand-Body Coordination in Basketball

If you watched the NBA's recently concluded playoffs, you saw Miami's Bam Adebayo win a game by shifting laterally under the basket, leaping, and blocking a would-be dunk by Boston's Jayson Tatum. Now consider the…
Posted by
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy

If you watched the NBA’s recently concluded playoffs, you saw Miami’s Bam Adebayo win a game by shifting laterally under the basket, leaping, and blocking a would-be dunk by Boston’s Jayson Tatum.

Now consider the skills that went into this brilliant play. First, Adebayo visually tracked his teammates – and opponents – whereabouts; then he considered multiple options, figured out Tatum’s strategy, devised a defensive strategy, and executed it – all within a few seconds.

How’s that for eye-hand-body coordination?

That coordination – which is actually a form of communication between the eyes, brain and body – relies on the signals your eyes send to your brain.

Even athletes with 20/20 vision can benefit from perfecting their visual skills to boost their performance. To succeed at basketball, players require the following visual skills:

  • Tracking and focusing: closely following the basketball’s movement so that if a ball comes loose after a rebound, you can track its direction and the pace and height of its bounces.
  • Depth perception: being able to calculate the basketball’s distance from you or the basket. This requires your eyes and brain to determine how far you are from the ball, how many strides you’ll need to reach it, and how many more strides it will take to reach the basket and go on to score.
  • Peripheral vision: seeing what’s around you while looking straight ahead allows you to see opponents racing toward the basket even when they’re at the edge of your visual field.
  • Focus flexibility: shifting focus between near and far objects enables you to look directly at the ball, then rapidly redirect attention to your opponent, and then rapidly back at the ball.
  • Dynamic visual acuity: accounting for key details of fast-moving objects, like the colour of the jersey of the player rushing toward you. Each option – opponent or teammate – calls for a vastly different response.

What Happens in the Exam Room Translates to the Court

In sports vision training, Opto-Mization will devise a customized regimen of exercises relating directly to the visual skills mentioned above. At home, you’ll practice these skills.

How long will your sports vision training last? From several weeks to several months. The techniques will accustom your brain to quickly respond to sports situations. Through repeated practice, you’ll develop visual memory for better eye-hand-body coordination during your team’s games and scrimmages.

Our practice serves patients from Victoria, Nanaimo, Duncan, and Vancouver Island, British Columbia and surrounding communities.

References:

Share
Our Victoria Practice
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
200-775 Topaz Ave
Victoria, BC V8T 4Z7
Phone
(250) 590-7384
Fax
250-412-6459
Email
(Do not send personal health information by email.)
  • Monday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Tuesday:
    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday:
    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Thursday:
    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Friday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Saturday:
    8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
  • Sunday:
    Closed
Rating
5.0
Out of 267 Reviews
Our Nanaimo Practice
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
205-1825 Bowen Rd
Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H1
Phone
(250) 591-0270
Fax
250-412-6459
Email
(Do not send personal health information by email.)
  • Monday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Tuesday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Wednesday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Thursday:
    11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Friday:
    9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Saturday:
    Closed
  • Sunday:
    Closed
Rating
5.0
Out of 60 Reviews

You Ask, We'll Answer

Educating you so you can make informed decisions

View More Resources
Want to ask a different question? Contact us here
  • What is Neuro-Optometry?

    Neuro-Optometry focuses on the intricate connection between your visual system and the brain, extending beyond traditional eye care to assess functional vision. This branch of optometry examines how your eyes track, move, coordinate, and how your brain processes depth, motion, and balance. Disruptions in these functions can lead to a range of issues including headaches, migraines, dizziness, balance challenges, post-concussion symptoms, reading difficulties, and attention deficits (ADHD). By exploring these functional areas, we also identify opportunities to enhance performance in activities such as sports, reading speed, and cognitive processes.

  • What is Vision Therapy?

    At Opto-Mization, vision therapy is a specialized, personalized program aimed at improving visual skills and abilities. It goes beyond traditional vision therapy to help improve how the eyes and brain work together, addressing visual-motor and perceptual-cognitive challenges to enhance overall visual function. It’s more than just exercises; it’s a pathway to better vision and improved daily life.

  • Do you Provide Regular Eye Exams and General Optometric Services?

    Yes, alongside vision therapy and neuro-optometry, we offer comprehensive eye exams and general optometry services. Our experienced optometrists perform thorough eye exams to evaluate overall eye health, identify any eye conditions or diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses when beneficial.

  • Who is the Ideal Candidate for Vision Therapy and Neuro-Optometry?

    Vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation can help individuals of all ages. Whether you’re struggling with visual processing issues, binocular vision disorders, amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye misalignment), or have sustained a brain injury, our services might be beneficial for you. Contact us to discuss if our tailored approach can meet your specific needs and goals.

  • Do I Need a Referral to See an Optometrist at Opto-Mization?

    No, you do not need a referral for an eye exam at Opto-Mization. We welcome anyone who suspects they might benefit from our services, whether you’re experiencing symptoms of visual discomfort or just want to ensure optimal visual performance. Feel free to reach out and schedule your appointment directly with us to take the first step toward understanding and improving your visual function.

  • Do You Direct Bill Insurance?

    Yes, we offer direct billing for a variety of insurance plans to make the process as seamless and hassle-free as possible for our patients. Our knowledgeable staff is well-versed in working with insurance providers, ensuring that you can maximize your benefits while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses for our services, including vision therapy and eye exams.