Half of Premier League clubs have now deployed virtual reality tech in one way or another for functions like rehabilitation and training, and all top-flight teams are expected to be using it by the end of the year.
Leicester City and Everton have recently begun using technology from cognitive development and analysis firm, Rezzil, to enable players to practice without even having to kick an actual football. The system uses a headset and hand controllers to facilitate virtual heading drills, mitigating the risk of damaging the brain. It also includes foot sensors, called HTC5 trackers, which replicate the motion of kicking a ball.
“It can recreate foot position and angle of attack,” said Andy Etches, Founder of Rezzil. “It’s unbelievably accurate. You can do keepy-uppies with it.”
Rezzil’s virtual reality training drills have been designed in consultation with UEFA Pro Licensed coaches and players. A key advantage of VR-powered training is cognitive development for the players, such as scanning the pitch, dealing with pressure, and more.
Several coaches are collaborating with the developers at Rezzil to build tailor-made training drills for their players. The tech is also being used for set-piece and goalkeeper distribution practice. However, the initial utility is to help players maintain the ‘feeling of playing’ during rehab.
Midfielder Lewis Cook, who recently got promoted to the Premier League with Bournemouth, took assistance from virtual reality during the early stages of his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury. Former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder and the World Cup winner, Cesc Fabregas, had also partnered with the company last year.
“In all of my years, I have never seen technology that allows players to develop their cognitive skills in a virtual reality world without the risk of injuries,” he said.
The technology is also coming in handy in academies to help young footballers learn and test new and unique ways of playing. Rezzil can replicate the experience of playing in front of tens of thousands of fans to aid the younger generation in getting used to the pressure.
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