Virtual reality training technology offers athletes new opportunities to practice game-speed scenarios without physical strain, as coaches and sports programs consider implementing this emerging tool in their training regimens.
Professional athletes like Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels are already using this technology to enhance their decision-making. Daniels, a finalist for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, led the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game while breaking the record for most offensive yards in a season by a rookie, including playoffs.
On the podcast “All Facts No Brakes with Keyshawn Johnson,” Daniels said, “It’s like real life. They load in the stadium that you’re playing in, I’ll get in there and they’ll probably give me seven seconds to know the play, pre snap I got to basically see the coverage and know where I’m going with the football all before the play clock runs out.”
VR training could also be useful at the high school level. “Absolutely,” said Brophy Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach Mr. Josh Garcia ’07 when asked about implementing VR training. “One of the things that coaches constantly try to do is get players into game speed, game-like situations. And I think during a practice setting, a lot of times it’s hard to get to that game speed.”
The technology’s appeal lies in its ability to bridge the gap between physical practice and mental preparation. According to Mr. Garcia, an athlete’s mindset significantly impacts their performance.
“If your mind is free and you’re confident, you can make a whole lot quicker decisions,” Mr. Garcia said.
This mental-physical connection proves particularly vital in sports like baseball, where split-second decisions can determine success or failure.
Mr. Garcia said, “You want to practice so much that you can read and react. Eyes read it, your body reacts to it, and that’s when guys can go and react and make a good play,”
Mr. Garcia emphasized the importance of positive self-talk in athletic performance.
“If I’m a baseball pitcher and all day during school, I’m thinking, ‘Gosh, I can’t throw strikes. Gosh, I can’t throw a curveball,’ when I get out there, I’m gonna tell myself the same thing. When now if I’m going throughout my day and my self talk is, ‘I can throw that curveball. I know how to do it,'” Mr. Garcia said.
This article was written using AI. The reporter takes responsibility for the piece by gathering, editing and verifying all included content.
