Virtual reality offers more than just games and fun. Take Sense Arena, for instance, enabling hockey and tennis players to perfect their skills without stepping onto rinks or courts.
Sense Arena represents a cutting-edge VR training platform tailored for athletes, focusing on fine-tuning skills by stimulating the brain. The team behind the initiative has crafted distinctive cognitive exercises, furnishing hockey and tennis enthusiasts with an edge through the harmonized advancement of their physical and cognitive abilities.
Our brain is as important as any other muscle in an athlete’s body. Let’s develop its performance and functions, so we see more great plays, fewer injuries, and pure joy in the eyes of an athlete,as stated by the Sense Arena website.
Experience off-ice hockey with Sense Arena. Source: https://twitter.com/sensearena
Sense Arena's team has forged strong collaborations with esteemed coaches and athletes. Included in their advisory boards for both hockey and tennis are:
- Bill Ranford, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and the current goaltending coach for the Los Angeles Kings.
- Lindsey Fry, the USA Hockey Olympic Medalist, who now coaches both hockey skills and cognitive performance.
- Thomas Magnusson, the head of goaltending development at the Swedish Ice Hockey Association.
- Marek Schwarz, a seasoned goaltender with NHL experience under his belt;
- And tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who once dominated the charts as the world's number one in both singles and doubles play.
One significant feather in Sense Arena's cap is its recognized partnership with USA Hockey. This alliance empowers users to don USA Hockey apparel, allowing them to immerse themselves as part of the national team during simulations. Additionally, users gain access to specialized drills tailored by the organization to maximize performance.
How does one train using Sense Arena?
For those keen on virtual training, they need a Sense Arena subscription, the dedicated 'Sense Arena for Hockey' application, and a Meta Quest 2 headset. Depending on a player's role, there might be additional gear required:
- Goaltenders will need Sense Arena sleeves, designed to fasten the Meta Quest 2 controllers to both their blocker and catching glove.
- Field players, on the other hand, would require a stick mount.
The beauty of Sense Arena is its flexibility. Trainees can engage in sessions whenever and wherever they prefer, provided there's no risk of damaging nearby items. For the cognitive drills, participants select their competency level, be it youth, pro athlete, or enthusiast, and set aside 20 to 60 minutes for the activity. These VR modules can either serve as an alternative to conventional practices or supplement them as an enhanced warm-up routine.
Sense Arena offers training for goaltenders and outfield players. Source: https://hockey.sensearena.com/
The Sense Arena app allows users to monitor their personal activities and accomplishments. Based on this information, the program tailors training plans and offers diagnostic tests to measure performance and benchmark against peers. Another standout feature is its personalized coaching: seasoned coaches provide feedback and share insights to elevate the player's skills and potential.
When athletes and hobbyists incorporate Sense Arena into their training regimen, they can hone critical skills pertinent to their specialty:
- Goaltenders can enhance their ability to track pucks on the ice, capturing shots and fine-tuning their reaction times.
- Outfield players can sharpen their decision-making, optimize their on-ice performance, boost their overtaking prowess, and expand their peripheral vision.
- Tennis players can train to focus on varied strokes, predict opponent moves, and expedite their reflexes.
Sense Arena caters to both individuals and larger organizations. Teams such as the Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, Vegas Golden Knights, and numerous university hockey teams have already integrated this VR app into their training routines.
