Quiet eye training (QET) is a method of training where you learn to focus your eyes in a specific way to improve your performance in a skill (Vickers, 2007; Vine, Moore, & Wilson, 2014). The quiet eye (QE) is the final fixation of your eyes before an important part of the skill (Vickers, 1996). This training can be used for any motor skill. Studies have shown that the quiet eye is associated with expert performance (Mann et al., 2007). There are two ways to do QET: feedback and feedforward. In feedback QET, you receive feedback on how long and where your quiet eye is during the skill by watching a video of your eyes. This helps you make your quiet eye more like an expert’s. In feedforward QET, you watch a video of an expert performing the skill and try to copy their eye movements. Both feedback and feedforward QET often include verbal or written instructions on how to control your gaze. QET has been proven to be a helpful training method for improving motor skills, making them more precise and resistant to pressure during performance (Vine et al., 2014).
Mann, D. T. Y., Williams, A. M., Ward, P., & Janelle, C. M. (2007). Perceptual-cognitive expertise in sport: A meta- analysis. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 29, 457 478.
Vickers, J. N. (1996). Visual control when aiming at a far tar- get. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 22, 342 354.
Vickers, J. N. (2007). Perception, cognition, and decision training: The quiet eye in action. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Vine, S. J., Moore, L. J., & Wilson, M. R. (2014). Quiet eye training: The acquisition, refinement and resilient performance of targeting skills. European Journal of Sport Science, 14, S235 242.