Play Ball!! – It’s SUMMER TIME!
Time to get ready for summer sports like baseball, tennis, biking, swimming, golf and numerous other games. This newsletter is devoted to athletes of all ages…from the toddler to the highly competitive athlete.
Are you ready? Whether you participate merely for fun or competition, take the steps to be sure that you are safe, enjoying the game and getting the most out of your
sports time.
Besides learning the specific techniques of the game, most sports involve specific strength, muscle, speed and movement skills. The same thing is true for your
vision skills related to your sport. For example, a baseball player hitting a 100 mph fast ball needs an entirely different visual skill set than that of a swimmer.
Ask yourself these questions:
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Are you truly able to see, focus and concentrate to excel at your sport?
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Can your eyes and body sync and coordinate to the fullest potential, or do you feel disconnected with what you see and how your body moves?
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Do you achieve the “mental” edge for your sport through the See It. Say It. Do It! Process?
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Are you visually safe and know how to PREVENT injuries so that you can focus on your sport?
Start It Now!
Make sure you and your children have comprehensive vision examinations yearly. Ask your optometrist about your specific sport.
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Do you need to wear your glasses or contact lenses for sports?
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Should you be wearing protective sports glasses/sunglasses?
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Are your visual skills adequate for the sports task you attempt?
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Could you benefit from sports vision training?
To find an optometrist in your area, check out the
College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) website or the
American Optometric Association Sports Vision Center.
Practicing the
See It. Say It. Do It! Process with your child at an early age gives him/her a lifetime skill. The combination of solid visual training, physical training and confidence really comes together in sports. Allison Arnold, Ph.D., is the founder of Head Games and serves as a consultant to USA Gymnastics and U.S. Figure Skating in addition to amateur, professional and collegiate athletes. Dr. Arnold says. “It’s never too early to teach your child the basics of mental training. Training the mind is no different from training the body.”
If your child has not utilized visualization for practice, she might need a little experience to see the connection between her mind and her sports performance.
Try one of these activities, for the
young child or the
older child. Modify the activity specifically for your child’s sport by filling in the blanks.
If you would like to learn more about sports vision and how you can benefit,
click here to see the video of Coach Dan Clemens interviewing Dr. Lynn Hellerstein on what sports vision is.
Lessons of Life
Sports, music, art and other types of activities are training grounds for life. The lessons you and your child learns, beyond the skill of the activity, are endless: teamwork, leadership, commitment, physical strength, motivation, preparation, mental toughness, and confidence. With continued practice, learning, and support, he/she is creating and growing into a powerful person. As a parent and athlete, I would view that as a
Ta-Dah!
Feel free to send questions, comments or insights on your journey of transformation.
With love and gratitude,
Lynn Fishman Hellerstein, O.D., FCOVD, FAAO
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