Detroit City FC defender Matt Sheldon started training with the Be Your Best virtual reality (VR) training tool for the 2024 United Soccer League (USL) Championship season.
Sheldon has eight seasons worth of experience in the USL Championship, making over 150 appearances across multiple clubs. This included playing just under 2,000 minutes for Hartford Athletic in the USL Championship 2023 season. Throughout his impressive career, Sheldon has also represented Saint Louis FC, Orange County Blues and Charleston Battery.
Away from the pitch, the right-back runs the successful YouTube channel Become Elite, where he has over 600,000 subscribers. His goal with his Become Elite soccer content is to give a behind the scenes look into the life of a professional soccer player.
The experienced defended was inspired to try VR soccer training after seeing Champions League level players use it, such as Martin Ødegaard and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Sheldon wanted to see it could help improve his game and cognitive abilities.
Sheldon planned to add the VR training to his regular season programme of activity. This would include team training, individual technical sessions, tactical analysis and gym workouts.
Here are some of the insights Sheldon shared of his experience with our innovative and cutting-edge VR technology. A first-hand account of the impact VR training can have on a professional soccer player’s performances on the field.
"It was pretty eye-opening"
Overall, Sheldon trained in VR for four months. He used Be Your Best for a couple of hours each week, alongside his usual regular training and matches.
The pro highlighted the convenience of VR training, "you can do this anywhere, at anytime". This aspect is especially beneficial for players who may not have access to traditional training facilities.
Sheldon remarked that when he "used Be Your Best for the first time, it was pretty eye-opening". The reason being, he quickly realised that he was not "scanning nearly as much as (he) needed". The Be Your Best app measures a number of key cognitive metrics. These include scan frequency and scan timing.
Another discovery was that Sheldon "almost never did the critical scan." This is the final scan a player makes to gather information as the ball is travelling towards you.
Sheldon set out three goals for his VR training. The first was to improve the timings of his scans, the second the frequency of scanning, and lastly, to start performing more critical scans.
"I felt more comfortable and had a better picture of the entire field"
Be Your Best recreates real-life soccer scenarios from the professional game in VR. Players can immerse themselves in a realistic, high-pressure game-like environment, without any physical load.
One of the key benefits of VR training is helping players develop better scanning behaviours and awareness skills. Additionally, players can step in the virtual boots of any position on the field. So, as well as playing in his usual right-back role, Sheldon also tested his awareness as a centre-back and midfielder.
The Detroit City player highlighted that "about two weeks after implementing (Be Your Best) into my regime, I noticed I was more mindful of scanning during team training".
As a professional player, Sheldon was already well-versed in the importance of scanning. However, he stated that after training in VR, he told himself to "check more".
Over the course of his continuous VR training, Sheldon began to see further benefits. After months of using Be Your Best, Sheldon said he "felt more comfortable and had a better picture of the entire field". Even referencing an increased confidence in receiving the ball in tighter spaces during games.
Sheldon set expectations that VR training is all about improving "those tiny details" and marginal gains. But that at the professional level, the details are what make the difference.
The honest assessment was that VR training is not intended to be a replacement for team or individual sessions. But, "if you add one or two hours weekly, it can have a positive benefit to your game".
Such a benefit that Sheldon plans to continue using Be Your Best for "foreseeable future".
Watch and listen to Sheldon's full review now ↓
To watch more Matt Sheldon soccer content, check out his Become Elite YouTube channel. You can also see how his team Detroit City FC are currently fairing in the 2024 USL Championship standings.
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