March is commonly known for its infamous collegiate basketball tournament known as March Madness. March Madness taps into the most well-known storylines, creating the most memorable competitions. Think Davids taking on Goliaths, Cinderella stories, and/or vengeful rivals finally meeting again. However, the mental and visual challenge of the sport, especially during the tournament, can be taxing for the players involved.

The Game of Basketball

Basketball is a fast-paced game. The hardwood court provides a perfect foundation for quick movements unhindered by a slower surface like grass. The shot clock ensures that both teams must make an attempt at a basket within 24-35 seconds. It’s often a high-scoring game in part due to its quickness, but also because its baskets are worth multiple points (depending on where the shot originates). All in all, basketball is a game of split seconds, forcing players to assess their field of view and make decisions quickly.

Players need to know where their teammates are and where the opposing players are. They need to be able to decide what route to run, what pick to set, if they should shoot or pass, when to dive in and steal the ball, or determine if their mark is going to take the shot or fake it and whether they should go for the block. These decisions are happening all over the court at high speeds and with little room for error.

The Visual Game

As much of a physically demanding game basketball is, it’s also visually demanding. There are at least 9 additional moving parts on the court (11 if you count the referees) that require a player’s visual attention. On top of the players active in the game, athletes also have to deal with distractions from enthusiastic fans on the sidelines or the blinding glare of the stadium lights. All this visual noise can make it difficult for a basketball player to focus on the important movements during the game, especially if their vision isn’t as sharp as it could be.

The Mental Game

On top of the visual noise that a player must fight through, mental fatigue also takes its toll on overall athletic performance. In this systematic review from 2022, authors looked at the impact it has on performance specifically in basketball. They found that mental fatigue impairs both technical performance (free throws, three pointers, total turnovers) and cognitive performance (decision making). The impairments result in athletes failing to use their skills adeptly and make practical decisions crucial to the outcome of the game.

EyePromise® for the Visual and Mental Game

Building the physical skills for basketball looks easy compared to trying to understand the training needed to work on the visual and mental aspects of the game. However, EyePromise can help make it easier for athletes to upgrade their eyes, their mind, and their game. Our clinically backed nutritional supplements deliver high-quality ingredients demonstrated to improve both visual and cognitive functions, including:

• Visual acuity
• Contrast sensitivity
• Light sensitivity
• Glare recovery
• Visual range
• Visual processing speed and reaction time
• Memory
• Focus
• Decision making

Our performance product line is NSF Certified for Sport, making it safe to take at any competitive level, including March Madness! Learn more about our eye health performance supplements.