Peripheral vision as a key factor for decision-making in soccer

Peripheral vision is critical for processing dynamic visual information in team sports such as soccer; however, yet little is known about how individual differences in peripheral visual field extent relate to decision-making efficiency under time pressure. This study investigated whether peripheral visual field size is associated with decision-making performance in soccer players while controlling for competitive level. Forty male soccer players (age: 21.65 ± 3.92 years) completed a peripheral vision assessment using a BlazePod system positioned at eccentricities ranging from 60° to 100°, while maintaining central fixation under eye-tracking control. Decision-making performance was assessed using 22 video-based soccer scenarios (presented twice) that required rapid pass/no-pass decisions. A composite performance ratio integrating decision accuracy and decision time served as the primary outcome. Partial correlation analyses, controlling for playing level, revealed a significant positive association between peripheral visual field extent and the performance ratio. This relationship was more strongly reflected in faster decision times, whereas the association with decision accuracy was weaker. These findings suggest that a larger peripheral visual field is associated with more efficient decision-making in soccer, largely due to reduced response times rather than improved accuracy. Peripheral visual capacity may therefore contribute uniquely to perceptual-cognitive performance beyond competitive level and could represent a potential target for future training interventions in time-constrained sport settings.