Futuristic training: Mainz goalkeepers wear stroboscopic glasses. What are they needed for?

Innovative technology is making its way into football – not even the top clubs. For example, in Mainz, goalkeeping training looks special. This is how they work at the training camp in Marbella – they are preparing for the resumption of the season (pictured – Robin Centner).

What it is? These are stroboscopic goggles. That is, they block the athlete’s vision for short stretches, cause the brain to anticipate and lead to hypersensitive perception. This helps to improve hand-eye coordination – for goalkeepers, for example, it can help with reaction to difficult shots.

The meaning is this: the brain starts to work faster when glasses block vision. Manufacturers of such glasses promise that after only five minutes of training in stroboscopic glasses, the game will seem slower for the athlete and will allow him to react faster – including to blows, because it will seem that they are slower than usual.

“Glasses stimulate brain activity and improve vision due to the intermittent shutter,” describes the product of the Japanese company VisionUp. “This makes it easy to improve the speed of brain processes and visual abilities: kinetic visual acuity, dynamic visual acuity, peripheral vision, depth perception, hand-eye coordination, and so on.”

 

Goalkeeping coaches periodically resort to such methods – for example, at Schalke almost seven years ago. These glasses cost about 500 euros. Axel Busenkell, head of the rehabilitation department, has also worked in neuroscience for a long time and gives Mainz players and exercises related to brain neurons.

And in the Swiss national team, stroboscopic glasses are generally stable in history – they were worn on Diego Benaglio 10 years ago. And during every tournament, Swiss goalkeepers work with them – perhaps that’s why Jan Sommer is so cool.

At the same time, stroboscopic glasses should not be worn too often. They are recommended to be used for a maximum of 15 minutes every two to three days – and no more than for three months in a row. And then you need a pause, otherwise the effect may be negative.