World's most visible football kit could help players with poor eyesight
The world’s most visible football kit has been created by eyesight experts, who claim it will make players unmissable on the pitch.
The garment is made in a bright yellow shade which has a wavelength of 550 nanometers (nm) – one of the brightest colours visible on the colour spectrum. This contrasts with a black image of snake, which taps into the “ancestral psychological mechanisms” that sub-consciously alert us to immediate danger.
Coupled with the black, yellow, and white colour combination, which gives an illusion of movement, the kit promises to improve the visibility of players on the pitch. The design was created by Dr Sherylle Calder in conjunction with Vision Direct, which will now work with a local team, to test whether the kit can boost the performance of players with poorer eyesight.
Dr Calder has worked with some of the world's top athletes to enhance their visual and cognitive skills, such as visual awareness, eye tracking, decision making, reaction time, scanning, and recognition. She was hailed as England Rugby’s “secret weapon” when she was part of the 2003 World Cup-winning coaching team.
Dr Calder said: “This design is eye-catching in more ways than one. Having worked with some of the best athletes in the world, including the England Rugby team in the year they won the World Cup, and British Open Winner, Ernie Els, I know that vision is at the core of their success. Working with Vision Direct, I’m pleased to be raising awareness of the power of visibility in sport from all perspectives.”
Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are securedThe insight could be good news for Arsenal, whose 23-24 away kit is similar – although instead of the snake design, it draws upon a map of Islington, the club’s home borough.