NIKE, Inc.sets a new standard in athletic training with the introduction of SPARQ Sensory Performance (SSP), an integrated approach that allows athletes to fine tune their sensory skills and see their sport better.SPARQ Sensory Performance is a system of technologies, products and programs designed to assess, analyze and improve an athlete’s visual and sensory performance. It’s another step in Nike’s nearly 40-year legacy of delivering game-changing innovations to help athletes perform at their peak.“Sensory training is at the cornerstone of how we can build better athletes,” said Paul Winsper, SPARQ Performance Director. “With SSP we’re able to integrate both sensory and physical training together. This performance philosophy has resonated with some of the top athletes, teams and clubs throughout the world.”

Nike SPARQ Sensory Stations

As the first step in improving an athlete’s performance, the SSP “assess” phase uses the Nike SPARQ Sensory Station, an interactive touch screen device, to evaluate athletes on 10 sport-relevant visual and sensory performance skills. The personalized station then translates that raw data into next steps for the athlete, which can guide a training program. The resulting SPARQ Sensory Performance profile compares an athlete’s results to others at their sport, position and skill level to provide a roadmap for improvement.Once the assessment and analysis are complete, Nike SSP provides two key tools designed to help an athlete improve: the Nike SPARQ Sensory Training Station and Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobe Eyewear. Athletes at any skill level can integrate both into their training programs to hone their sensory skills.

Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobe Eyewear

Following visual testing to evaluate different aspects of the athlete’s visual skills, a crucial tool to improve key areas is The Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobe Eyewear. By blocking or disrupting vision using a strobe or flicker effect that can be varied in speed, an athlete can develop quicker reaction times and motor skills. The strobe effect improves reaction time by switching between clear and blocked vision, which trains the brain to anticipate what‘s coming when the eyes are blocked. Features include an adjustable head strap for a secure fit and liquid-crystal lens technology with variable speeds for different levels of training.

The system is already proving effective.

Two recent studies* showed that training with the Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobes improved:

1) The ability to pick up subtle motion cues

2) Visual information processing

3) Timing of motion

Nike SPARQ Sensory Training Stations use software-based training modules to improve multiple sensory performance skills. The stations can be used regularly as an integrated part of training programs for athletes of all levels. Top collegiate and professional programs have purchased the Nike strobe eye wear and stations, with a full global roll out now in action.

NFL Players Use Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobe to See Sport Better

What do NFL Players Ndamukong Suh, Greg Jennings, Mark Sanchez, and Larry Fitzgerald have in common?  They’re all training with the Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobe eyewear to help them see sport better.

“The tennis ball looked like a beach ball, it was so easy to catch,” said Mark Sanchez after training with the Vapor Strobe.

The Strobe blocks an athlete’s vision for a small period of time, forcing the brain to anticipate what’s coming next.  Strobe eyewear improves sports performance by enhancing visual skills such as focus, object tracking, anticipation timing, reaction time, balance/stability, visualization, and peripheral vision.

Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals began vision training at age 5.  “I really think it helped me get to the point where I am now,” he says.