Programs across the country have invested in the cutting edge technology in virtual reality to help better prepare their players on game day.
Stanford is one of those programs on the forefront, using the technology to prepare players mentally for game day, while allowing them to stay fresh from a physical standpoint.
David Shaw took the podium earlier this week to explain the benefits he has witnessed from their virtual reality training, and he does a great job laying out the benefits from a coaching and physiological perspective.
"The short of it, the way that virtual reality works, is that it tricks your brain for something to be real. We all know the 10,000 hours that it takes to be good at something, well virtual reality actually counts in those 10,000 hours because since the day that we were born, our eyes have been telling our brain what reality is."
"So as long as your eyes believe what you see, your brain is taking it as real. So now, if we can video some of the toughest blitzes that a team has, and the quarterback can go through it three times a week and watch those things over and over again, Kevin [Hogan] can tell you that in the middle of a game, it's like 'I've been here before. I know what is going to happen because I've seen this before.' And we can change the protection, and Boom! Touchdown pass."
"Now we can't stay on the football field for an extra hour, we have a limited time. But if we can get the brain to still get in work that counts, without the physical, but it still counts for his mental, those are invaluable reps that are the reason why VR is becoming more and more popular."
Your program may not be in a position to bring in some virtual reality, but finding a creative way for your players to mentally prepare for situations they'll see on game day, while still staying fresh physically should be a top priority for everyone.
Hear more from Shaw in the video.
https://youtu.be/BUmVyVCox9U