The glasses to save Mbappe’s penalties

It could be tech glasses that take credit for Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s save, who blocked the Frenchman’s penalty by catapulting his team into the quarter-finals for the first time. Then with Spain it didn’t go as well, but that’s another story. Meanwhile, the arrival in the quarterfinals was a historic achievement, with the saving of a decisive penalty for the reigning champions. Sommer’s athletic gesture was perhaps not the result of luck or a personal twist, but of a specific training method that includes the use of what at first glance seem to be simple sunglasses, and which instead are hi-tech tools. which increase brain responsiveness and improve visual performance. Not a new technology, already tested on the field by athletes of many disciplines (especially baseball and American football) and for the rehabilitation of sight. These glasses, called “strobe glasses”, produce an effect similar to that of disco strobe lights. The lenses darken at short and regular intervals giving the athlete a “jerky” vision that appears slowed down and allows you to better visualize the trajectory of the ball. With constant use it trains the brain to react more quickly and more accurately. There are many wearables devices that promise to revolutionize football, and FIFA is also starting to authorize and include them in its innovation program, FIP. Among these is the Israeli Playermaker, which has produced a band that attaches to the shoe equipped with sensors that communicate directly with an artificial intelligence and machine learning platform. It keeps track of every touch and relaunch, monitors the possession of the ball, the speed and power of kicks of the individual, and when used for training the whole team integrates the data of each player into a tactical analysis. Its investors also include former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, and the device is used by Manchester City, Glasgow Rangers and even the Argentina national team – as well as being available for one-time purchase for anyone looking to improve and monitor their own. athletic performance without being part of a Serie A team. Another feature that makes Playmaker attractive even for amateurs is the ability to compare their performance with those of professionals on the app, which also allows Soccerment smart shin guards, which they measure accelerations, speeds, changes of direction, shots, passes and crosses. Another FIFA-approved wearable is the smart vest, equipped with GPS tracking to analyze movements on the pitch, and which thanks to the connected app provides statistics and tips to improve performance and monitor progress, strengths and moments of weakness in the game. match or training course. All technologies that, in addition to monitoring athletic performance, also improving team play and integration between the players on the pitch, help to keep the health and vital parameters of the players under control, helping to prevent injuries and accidents.