Quiet Eye - this one trick professional athletes use to focus when under pressure

Summary

This video by Jonas, co-founder of Flow Lab, explores the concept of the Quiet Eye, a technique used by athletes to enhance focus and performance under pressure. Through visual fixation on a target, athletes can block distractions and improve outcomes, such as basketball free throws or soccer penalty kicks. Studies show significant performance boosts, like a 23% increase in free throw accuracy. The video explains the neuroscience behind this and its link to Flow states, offering practical training tips for athletes and high performers to maintain focus and avoid choking under pressure.

Takeaways

• 🏀 Star athletes like Luka Doncic have impressive free throw attempts but can struggle with percentage accuracy.
• 🔑 The Quiet Eye technique helps athletes maintain focus under pressure, improving performance.
• 👀 The Quiet Eye is defined as a final visual fixation on a target before a decisive movement, helping to block out distractions.
• 🏹 Different sports use the Quiet Eye in various ways: dart players focus on the bullseye, basketball players on the rim, and soccer players on a goal corner.
• 📈 Research shows that Quiet Eye training can lead to significant performance boosts, such as a 23% improvement in free throw percentages.
• ⚽ Soccer players using Quiet Eye training have been shown to improve penalty kick success by 50% compared to a control group.
• 🧠 Quiet Eye improves both attention control and perceived control, which helps in reducing anxiety during high-pressure moments.
• 💡 The Quiet Eye activates the brain's dorsal attention network, enhancing focus and blocking out distracting stimuli from the ventral attention network.
• 🌊 The connection between Quiet Eye and Flow states is intriguing, suggesting similar brain processes and potential for future research.
• 📱 Quiet Eye training is practical without expensive equipment and can be improved with simple tools like visual markers or laser pointers.

Q & A

What is the 'Quiet Eye' technique mentioned in the video?

The 'Quiet Eye' technique refers to the final visual fixation or tracking gaze on a specific location or object before performing a decisive movement. This helps athletes block distractions and improve focus, which is key to enhancing performance under pressure.

How does the Quiet Eye help athletes in high-pressure situations?

The Quiet Eye helps athletes by improving attention control, blocking out distractions, and focusing on a critical object. This helps in reducing anxiety and boosting confidence in the outcome, which can lead to better performance during high-pressure moments.

What sports can benefit from using the Quiet Eye technique?

Sports like basketball, soccer, darts, golf, volleyball, and baseball can benefit from the Quiet Eye technique. It applies to both self-paced movements, such as free throws in basketball, and interceptive movements, like tracking a ball in volleyball or baseball.

What did Harle and Vickers discover about Quiet Eye training in basketball players?

Harle and Vickers found that basketball players who underwent Quiet Eye training improved their free throw percentages by 23% after two seasons, demonstrating the effectiveness of the technique.

How is the Quiet Eye connected to Flow states?

Both the Quiet Eye and Flow states involve 'top-down attentional control,' which means focusing on specific features without being distracted by the environment. The Quiet Eye helps activate the dorsal attention network, which supports Flow-like focused concentration.

What is the role of the dorsal and ventral attention networks in the Quiet Eye technique?

The dorsal attention network maintains focused attention and blocks out distractions, while the ventral attention network detects attention-grabbing stimuli. During Quiet Eye, the dorsal network becomes dominant, suppressing the ventral network to maintain focus.

How can athletes train the Quiet Eye without expensive eye-tracking devices?

Athletes can train their Quiet Eye by drawing a spot on their target (such as the back of a golf ball or basketball rim) or using a laser pointer to focus their gaze. Coaches can provide feedback to help the athlete keep their focus before, during, and after the movement.

What are the benefits of Quiet Eye training for athletes under pressure?

Quiet Eye training helps athletes avoid choking under pressure by improving focus, enhancing perceived control over the outcome, and reducing anxiety. This leads to more consistent and improved performance in crucial situations.

Can non-athletes benefit from Quiet Eye training?

Yes, non-athletes can benefit from Quiet Eye training to improve general attention control and focus. This can help in various activities that require sustained concentration.

What does the Flow Lab app offer in relation to Quiet Eye training?

The Flow Lab app offers a specific Flow Session called 'Quiet Eye,' where users meditate with their eyes open, focusing on a visual point to practice maintaining attention. This session is inspired by the Quiet Eye technique and aims to enhance focus and self-regulation skills.