An overview of important vision skills for Cheerleaders

and how sports vision training can improve performance

Vision Training For Cheerleading

Cheerleading is a sport which requires a great deal of physical skill and coordination. Vision skills, as well, play a major part in success as a cheerleader, and improving those skills can lead to many improvements in performance.

Sports vision training is customized training that gives athletes a major edge against the competition by improving the specific visual skills needed for the position and sport that they play.

Core Visual Skills

While there are a number of vision skills that are important for cheerleaders, some are more crucial to performance than others.

Core vision skills for cheerleaders include:

Eye-Hand-Foot-Body Coordination: A great amount of body control is required for cheerleaders, especially for the more complex performances put on by large cheerleading squads. Good coordination is important not just for performance, but also for safety.
Visual Boundaries: This vision skill increases one’s ability to recognize the size of the space around them. For cheerleaders, this is important as the area in which they perform tends to be limited in size, and it is important, especially if they are involved in complex performances including any acrobatics, to be aware of the space around them.
Visual Spatial Relations: This vision skill gives an athlete the ability to perceive the way to properly position themselves in relation to other people or objects nearby. For cheerleaders, this is an important skill when taking part in a performance with others.
Visual Attention: Visual attention is the ability to maintain visual focus amid a stressful environment. For cheerleaders, improving this skill will help better maintain visual attention during a potentially stressful performance in front of a large crowd.

Secondary Visual Skills

Secondary visual skills for cheerleaders aren’t necessarily any less important than core visual skills, though they are not quite as central to what is needed for a cheerleader to be successful.

Peripheral Awareness: For any sport involving other people in motion around the athlete, enhancing peripheral awareness is important, and cheerleaders are no exception.
Bilateral Coordination: Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the body together to perform a task. For cheerleaders taking part in more acrobatic performances and sophisticated synchronized body movements, improving this skill will also increase a cheerleader’s performance level.

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with Sports Vision Training!

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Dr. Ikeda

Dr. Ikeda, FCOVD, DPNAP, is a leading optometrist in the field of neuro optometric rehabilitation and developmental optometry. He has made profound contributions to the field over the years and uses these expertise to provide the highest quality of eye care to his patients. He was Past-President of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF) and of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA). He received the “Founding Fathers Medal” for his continued service to NORA and he was recognized as “Physician of the Year” by the Rehabilitation Nurses Society. He is a clinical associate professor of the Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry and was inducted as a Distinguished Practitioner into the National Academies of Practice (Optometry Academy).

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Testimonials

I haven't actually used the optometrist side, so my review is limited to the vision therapy offered. This office was recommended by my occupational therapist for the treatment of my double vision following a stroke.

Claire A.

Love this location. I had a brain injury accident from day one one. All the team make you feel you still important and hope in the horizon after when the medical system fell you miserably. Dr. Ikeda very professional and very understanding about your issue. Two tombs up.

Jim K.

My husband and I were immediately impressed with Dr Ikeda. I was hit by a car while cycling which caused broken bones and three brain injuries. The brain injuries caused double vision. Dr. Ikeda examined my eyes and got me started on vision therapy with his occupational therapist who specializes in vision therapy. She (Chris) is absolutely great. I am impressed with the array of tools used to help recover my binocular vision. I am doing things I never thought were possible (balance boards etc). Chris pushes me and keeps me motivated. I really enjoy my sessions with her. The office staff is always friendly and they have a wonderful appointment reminder tool that makes it easy to keep my calendar up to date. I am happy the rehab center at Little Co. of Mary recommended them!!

Teresa S.

The Vision Therapy is handled in a separate office through a different door from the shared waiting room. Chris, the vision therapist, has a wide and varied assortment of tools, equipment and resources to best evaluate and treat most vision issues. After just a few visits, my double vision became easier to control, using exercises developed during the therapy process. It was time well-spent.

Joe M.

I have been coming here since I can remember. I love it here. The staff is so amazing and nice. They explain everything they gonna do and never make you feel rushed. Dr. Ikeda has always been my doctor and I would never want another one. He is the doctor for my whole family and is always asking how everyone is doing. I am also so crazy about picking out my frames and have to try so many and each person who helps me take the time and lets me try them all on. I would never want to go anywhere else! I definitely would recommend this office to anyone looking for a great eye doctor.

Kayla W.

This is not for the eye exam but for the frames selection portion. I brought my prescription from Kaiser here with my VSP insurance. The reception staff was very polite and professional. Manny helped me to pick out frames and explain my coverage. Very helpful and patient not like the individual at the other place I rated here on Yelp. I was running late and he still helped me and was not bothered at all. I am so glad I came here ..........very pleased.

Very professional staff and pleasant.