Visual adjustability and position of play in a group of university football (soccer) players

Background: Visual adjustability is the ability of the visual system to be flexible enough to rapidly adjust and guide the body’s motor responses quickly and accurately, while the surroundings change. The time it takes the visual system to adjust to the changes in the sporting environment will determine the efficiency of the motor response. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess visual adjustability in a group of university football players in different positions of play. Visual adjustability was then trained using a cluster ball, and the skill was measured again to check for any improvement. The results were then compared with the control group and the norms by Buys and Ferreira. Setting: The study was conducted at the University of Limpopo Optometry Department and the offices of the University of Limpopo Soccer League. Methods: Ninety-seven footballers took part in the current study. The participants were divided into control and experimental groups. Visual adjustability was assessed in both groups before and after the training and compared with the norms by Buys and Ferreira. Results: Visual adjustability improved in the different positions of play after training. Comparing the results with the norms, footballers started training with visual adjustability at ‘ineffective’ and ‘average’, and improved to ‘above average’ when compared with the norms by Buys and Ferreira. Conclusion: Visual adjustability improved after training when compared to the control group and the suggested norms. Control group improvements were statistically not significant. Contribution: The current study aims to contribute more information on the subject of visual adjustability and recommend more research on the topic and draw attention to the significance of visual adjustability to sports performance. The study recommends that visual adjustability be made sport-specific.