Evidence of ‘de-learning’ of rugby skills during lockdown
South African rugby has returned with a breathless whimper rather than an emphatic bang. Leading visual sports scientist Dr Sherylle Calder is unhappy. A decline in the players’ fitness was expected after six months in lockdown, but experts, including Calder, believe the skill levels are inexcusably below par.
What’s more, the prevalence of digital devices, and the ways players have abused them, may have contributed to a decline in awareness and impaired decision-making.
Last month, a documentary that highlights the nefarious tactics of social media giants as well as their drive to monetise a user’s attention, made waves around the world. More people have become aware of the threat, as well as the damage extensive exposure to a device can have on an individual’s state of mind.
From a sporting perspective, Calder believes that athletes must manage their screen time if they are to avoid ‘de-learning’ the core skills that often decide elite sporting contests and tournaments.
Rugby received the green light to return to play on 26 September. The “SuperFan Saturday” showpiece at Loftus Versfeld was followed by a Springbok “trial” game at Newlands. The revamped domestic competition, dubbed Super Rugby Unlocked, started on 9 October.
Calder, like many, has been unimpressed by the level of skill on display.
“From what I saw, the timing and accuracy just wasn’t there,” she says. “A lot of people have used the lockdown as an excuse for a drop in standards, but that’s unacceptable in this respect. I also wonder how much time the players have spent on their devices over the past few months.”
Visual skills
Calder has specialised in visual motor performance for nearly 30 years. She’s worked with the All Blacks, the Australian Test cricket side, South African golf legend Ernie Els and many other elite teams and athletes.
Dubbed “The Eye Lady” by former president Nelson Mandela, Calder was on the winner’s podium when England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 and was a proud South African when the Springboks triumphed in 2007. More recently, she worked with the England rugby team between 2017 and 2019.
Calder’s EyeGym develops visual skills that enable people to make quick and informed decisions. Nowadays, digital distractions threaten to undo a lot of her good work.
In 2017, Calder made headlines when she instructed the England rugby players to limit their exposure to smartphones, as research had shown that excessive use impacted on the ability to focus and process information.
In the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, there was a surge in internet activity as athletes, like most others trapped indoors, spent more time on their devices. Calder told
that it would be some time before those affected regained what they lost.
Stedman Gans was one player who caught the eye in South African rugby’s truncated preseason. Calder reveals that the former Blitzbok, who is now with the Bulls, has been on the EyeGym programme for some time. The benefits of his training were clear in that preseason game against the Sharks.
“Stedman didn’t take long to readjust,” Calder explains. “His understanding of space and his timing of the pass [were] evident
We are training ourselves to be distracted. It’s not an affliction that is limited to sportspeople either. It impacts everybody with a phone. People must manage their screen time better.
in the way he set up his team for two tries. Those are the skills that players should be sharpening on a regular basis.
“All that screen time obviously hasn’t helped,” she says of the South Africans’ collective performance. “When you’re cooped up at home and when you’re bored, you may be tempted to get out your phone and start scrolling. It really is the worst thing you can do.
“People are getting into bed at night and spending hours on their phones. They’re reacting each time they see the blue light flash. That’s disrupting sleep patterns. It’s effectively disrupting the level of performance the following day. Sleep is crucial for athletes, and without it, the quality of the individual performance, and ultimately the team performance, will suffer.”