Is this a pure genetic ability, a learned ability or both?
one eyed Jack wrote:
Is this a pure genetic ability, a learned ability or both?
They forgot to address this.
David Epstein's book The Sports Gene talks a lot about the role of eyesight in baseball, along with arguments for and against genetic advantages for East Africans in distance running, West Africans in sprints, and lots of other interesting stuff. It's a really interesting book.
https://www.amazon.com/Sports-Gene-Extraordinary-Athletic-Performance/dp/161723012X
I wouldn't have thought eyesight was as much of a factor in soccer as baseball, but I don't know much about soccer.
delicious chelada wrote:
I wouldn't have thought eyesight was as much of a factor in soccer as baseball, but I don't know much about soccer.
I doubt it's equally significant, but it's certainly a factor. While one-touching a soccer ball isn't as difficult as hitting a fast ball, the hitter is trying to just put the ball in play, whereas the soccer player is often redirecting it across the field to a particular, very small point. That involves knowing not just exactly where the ball is moving, but also knowing its exact rate and direction of spin.
Also, good eyesight helps with the timing of runs when the ball is struck long. The earlier in the ball's flight that you can tell where it's going, the more flexibility you have to pick various ways of getting on the end of it, hopefully having gained yourself a few yards space from a defender who was surprised by your speed change and route.