11/24/2025
The body will do what it’s designed to do if the intake of information is what it should be.
IN THE BOX
If the athlete has trouble diverging the eyes, the pitch will be more difficult to visually pick up as soon as it leaves the pitcher’s hand, and the detail, spin, and velocity of the ball will be harder to detect.
AT THE FREE THROW LINE
If the athlete has trouble diverging the eyes, the goal may appear closer than it actually is, depth perception will be affected, and the shot will often be short. These athletes often shoot better on the move - the vestibular system kicks in helping the visual system relax, allowing the eyes to drift outward.
QB POSITION
If the athlete has trouble diverging the eyes, the QB will have trouble coordinating peripheral awareness and central vision. Depth perception will also be affected if the athlete has trouble diverging his eyes. Successful QBs must have excellent peripheral awareness to move in the pocket. They must be able to effectively coordinate central vision with peripheral vision. QBs must also have great depth perception to understand where the receivers are in relation to one another.
‼️ The majority of the athletes I work with (high school and college level) have trouble diverging their eyes. Are they “locked in a hard focus” due to excessive small screen use? That’s for another post.
Train central vision, improve depth perception, and your peripheral vision/peripheral awareness will improve. You will not have great peripheral awareness if you cannot diverge your eyes!
The visual system is complex, but the answers are often simple.
The body will do what it’s designed to do if the intake of information is what it should be.