Percepción de los deportistas sobre la importancia del sistema visual en el rugby paralímpico

In recent decades, attention has increased on the relationship between visual skills and sport. However, there are few studies on this topic in Paralympic sports and, about the perception of the influence of the visual system on the sports performance of athletes. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of wheelchair rugby players about the influence of the visual system in sport. Fifteen athletes of the Bogota and Cundinamarca Paralympic rugby team were included, who underwent a semi-structured interview. Among the results analyzed, it was found that for the participants the visual system provides different benefits in their sports performance, since it offers general and specific information about the game, such as the location of the ball, the players and the rivals on the court. From his perspective, it allows the discrimination of distances and helps in the correct execution of motor actions. In conclusion, the players highlight the contribution of the visual system in the proper execution of rugby, thanks to the interpretation of the information they receive from the environment; they highlight the importance of physical abilities such as stamina, strength, and speed, as well as mental abilities, such as logic and concentration.