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Peripheral Awareness

Peripheral awareness is a relaxed state of looking at a target or focal point, without moving your hear or eyes off the target, and also being very aware of peripheral movement. In games an individual

• applying pressure on an opponent with the ball, or
• in possession of the ball and under pressure from an opponent

becomes so focused on their opponent and the pressure that, for all practical purposes, peripheral awareness no longer exist.

An individuals normal field of vision varies based on a number of factors including:

• how deep set their eyes are,
• the size and shape if their nose, and
• other facial features.

For individuals with normal vision using both eyes the normal ranges of vision are:

• 6 degrees for reading (using the macula, the part of the retina that is responsible for the sharp, central vision needed for reading and to drive),
• 15 degrees for acute vision (sharp vision when looking straight at the target),
• 110 to 120 degrees for perceptional span (which is the arc where an individual's binocular vision using both eyes supports a wider field of view, depth perception, and dynamic visual acuity for tracking of moving objects and/or while moving), and
• 170 to 190 degrees for the full span of vision without turning one's head or eyes. This includes peripheral vision to each side where only the eye on that side of the head is able to detect movement, but not depth perception or dynamic tracking of what is seen (like a Cyclops), and
• 125 to 135 degrees for the full span of vertical vision (seeing down and up at the same time) without moving the head up or down.

Scanning or only moving the eyes to each side is the fastest way to bring both eyes on a target  and to be able to judge depth and have dynamic visual acuity (the ability to track moving objects and/or while moving). See Faster Scan Rate

Peripheral Awareness Improvement

Peripheral awareness exercises that improve peripheral awareness can be done:

• at home or traveling to and from practices,
• online, or
• in team practices.

See links for Peripheral Awareness exercises in the right column.

Peripheral Awareness Training

2 Screen Home Training
Square Practice Game