Off to an impressive 10-0-3 start this season, the No. 7 Iowa women’s soccer team has been using an unorthodox method of training since last spring — virtual reality.

Watching goalkeepers Macy Enneking and Taylor Kane compete and fly through the “Reaction Wall,” “Goalkeeper Simulation,” and “Shut-Out” simulations with prowess and ease is truly a sight to witness.

Imagine this:

Sitting in a Hawkeye-decorated room with Enneking and Kane physically just a few steps ahead in the real world — and then Meta Quest 2 is put on. Kane and Enneking are transported to a completely different online realm thanks to the use of virtual reality.

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The players are transported to a virtual gym-like setting. From punching bags to the heavy rock music in the background, virtual reality truly encapsulates a real-
world experience.

Standing in place, Meta Quest controllers in their hands, the Iowa goalkeepers run through exercises that test the quickness of their reactions. They must block shots and click buttons immediately, developing their hand-eye coordination when it comes to in-game decisions on the pitch.

“We use it specifically for reaction times,” Enneking said. “It’s almost like using a reaction board in real life but just through the use of virtual reality. We can look at which hands we use more, our fastest reaction time, our slowest reaction time, and how many hits.”

The lack of physical exertion beyond their reactions is crucial to much-needed rest in between games — all while maintaining progression and developing skills that apply to the position.

“When it comes to just shooting balls or stuff like that, that’s a lot of physical toll, so being able to do it by yourself whenever you want to come in at your convenience is a lot more helpful,” Enneking said. “It’s better than trying to ask a friend to come out and shoot some balls with you because it also takes a toll on their legs and tiredness.”

Using virtual reality has helped Enneking and Kane both tremendously this season, contributing to the Hawkeyes’ 4-0-1 conference record and first place standing in Big Ten play.

“It’s super helpful for the other side of the game,” Enneking said. “I know [Kane] has emphasized a lot that goalkeeping is a lot of physicality while the other side is the mental side. I think virtual reality helps bring both of those topics together. Since we are not doing as much physically, it’s a lot easier to use and a lot more fun.”

Regardless of initial perceptions and misconceptions of virtual reality, watching this exciting new technology for the first time in person proves there are legitimate benefits.

During the off-season, goalkeepers at the University of Iowa usually practice with virtual reality at a minimum of two or three times per week. In season, it’s even used by goalkeepers during pregame.

The use of virtual reality has even sparked some friendly competition in what Enneking has coined as the “Goalkeepers Union.”

“We would see who can beat each other today or tomorrow,” she said. “So, I think that [virtual reality] has helped us see growth.”

The Iowa goalkeepers are currently tied for 12th in the country for goal-against average and have a save percentage of .833.

While virtual reality has been predominantly used by the goalkeepers at Iowa, Kane believes there is use for this type of technology beyond the pitch.

“I think goalkeepers across a lot of sports would benefit,” she said. “Hockey, lacrosse — stuff like that. I think it would be interesting to see how tennis would do with it because it is a lot of hand-eye coordination.”