Light-based manipulation of visual processing speed during soccer-specific training has a positive impact on visual and visuomotor abilities in professional soccer players

Abstract

This study was aimed at assessing the effects of a 6-week intervention within a training environment that uses special lighting conditions targeted to slow down the visual processing speed of visual and visuomotor performance in professional soccer players. Twenty-four soccer players (age = 21.8 ± 4.8 years, 50% women) from the under 18 and under 23 men's teams, and 1st Women's team of the Sunderland Association Football Club participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups, with the intervention group performing 2-weekly 30-min sessions of specific soccer tasks with specific lighting conditions using the Okkulo system (Okkulo™, okkulo.com), whereas the control group performed the same training under normal lighting conditions. The intervention group showed significant improvements in dynamic visual acuity (p < 0.001), recognition time (p = 0.002), sensory reaction time (p < 0.001), motor reaction time (p = 0.002) and peripheral identification accuracy (p < 0.001), whereas no significant effects were obtained for stereopsis (p = 0.05), peripheral identification speed (p = 0.17) and anticipation (p = 0.22). In conclusion, a 6-week training intervention using the Okkulo system improved several visual and visuomotor skills in professional soccer players. Future studies will assess the transfer effects of using this technology to on-field performance.