The Valley Sports Vision Pyramid

The Valley Sports Vision Pyramid shows an athlete all of the visual skills required to maximize visual performance. This pyramid was developed to demonstrate the relationship between these visual skills: The lower level functions need to be developed and maximized before the higher level ones.

At Valley Sports Vision, we first train the “hardware” visual skills (lower level) through a variety of exercises, which improve the athlete’s ability to increase processing speed and function. After that, we train the “software” visual skills (higher level); which help maintain visual attention while undergoing the maximal stress and fatigue of a particular sport.

Our ultimate goal is to have our athletes perform in a superior way, both at the end of the game as well as at the beginning.

Visualization

Visual
Attention

Anticipation
Timing

Span of Perception

Go/No-Go
(Decision Making & Impulse Control)

Peripheral Eye-Hand Speed

Central Eye-Hand Reaction & Response Speeds

Dynamic Visual Acuity
(target capture)
Accommodative/
Vergence Facility
Stereopsis

Ocular
Health
Refractive Status
(Higher & Lower Aberrations)
Binocularity
(Eye Teaming)
Static
Visual Acuity
Contrast
Sensitivity

- M & S Pro-Sports Vision Testing System
- Valley Vision Eye Care Professionals
- Valley Sports Vision Training

Hover over each section for more details

M & S Pro-Sports Vision Testing System

The Pro Sports Vision Screening System has been proven to identify and analyze the five key areas of vision that are critical in the evaluation of athletes. Deficiencies, as compared to elite athletes can be targeted during the training process.
Valley Vision Eye Care Professionals

In addition to comprehensive eye care, the doctors at Valley Vision Clinic have taken special interest in visual function as it pertains to athletic performance. They will design a specific training program and employ the newest optical aids to maximize performance.
Valley Sports Vision
Training

Valley Sports Vision has a Vision Training program using the newest technologies in sports vision training that maximizes athletic performance. Different visual and physical exercises are specifically programmed to improve the athlete's vision, translating to improved performance on the playing field

Visualization is seeing an image or movie in your mind. The more vividly you visualize an event, the more real it will seem, and the more effective you will be at re-programming your brain.

Visual Concentration is the ability to screen out distractions to stay focused on the ball or the target.

Eye tracking helps you follow objects without much head motion to maintain better balance and react to the situation more quickly.

Visual memory is the ability to recall information when prompted by a visual cue. It gives the athlete the ability to rapidly recognize patterns, and to make quick and accurate decisions.

Decision making is the mental process that results from a reaction to a situation. The quicker you react to a situation, the faster you will be able to make a decision.

It is the athlete’s ability to synchronize finger, hand and arm movements with constantly changing visual information from a dynamic sporting environment.

It is the athlete’s ability to synchronize finger, hand and arm movements with visual information from a dynamic sporting environment that happens directly in front of an athlete.

Dynamic visual acuity refers to the athlete's clarity of vision while the athlete is in movement or while the athlete is tracking a moving object.

Visual accommodation refers to the process by which the eye adjusts in order to produce a clear focus at changing distances.

Two-eyed depth perception enables you to quickly and accurately judge the distance between yourself, the ball, your opponents, teammates, boundary lines and other objects.

Without an eye exam, many athletes can suffer from undetected vision or eye health problems. Without healthy eyes and vision, they can face unnecessary challenges.

Refraction is conducted to determine the appropriate lens power needed to compensate for any refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism), otherwise known as lower order aberrations.

Binocular vision refers to the ability to maintain visual focus on an object when both eyes are used together.

Static visual acuity refers to the athlete's clarity of vision while the athlete is focusing on a stationary object.

Contrast sensitivity refers to the ability to quickly and clearly identify objects in varying lighting conditions and against backgrounds of varying color.