They say that practice makes perfect and San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard is putting that to the test. His preseason numbers have been impressive, and he is not showing any signs of slowing down. Beathard has been using technology to further his athletics abilities. Virtual Reality has been his practicing partner, and it has been confirmed that he has reviewed more than 1,000 practice plays in a week’s time. VR has helped Beathard read defenses, progressions, and other important aspects of playing QB in the NFL.
The training technology that Beathard is using is made by a company called STRIVR. They work with six NFL teams, including the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, plus the recent NCAA College Football champions, the Clemson Tigers. Football teams are starting to see the potential of training their athletes virtually. By using a VR headset, athletes can experience game scenarios the same way they do on the field without physically jeopardizing their bodies. This could be a real advantage for athletes who want to take their practice to the next level and spend that practice time off the field.
49ers president Al Guido was quoted. “How do you reduce the hits but yet not reduce the amount of time someone can practice their craft? So knowing someone can put a VR machine on and get real, live, what in football we call ‘reps,’ without taking those hits on was we thought advantageous”.
It seems Virtual Reality will play a part in the development of Beathard and many other players across the NFL. If Beathard continues leveling up his playing, it may not be long until he gets a chance to be a starter for the 49ers.
Here at VRFI, we have spent a lot of time in Virtual Reality for our own research and development. Seeing how STRIVR is using VR for training is super exciting, and something we believe will be a game changer for many different fields and scenarios. We look forward to watching this company grow and to keep pushing the boundaries of Virtual Reality and what it can be used for.