Investigating VR in Sports Training: Cognitive and Performance Impacts

Integrating virtual reality (VR) into sports training and coaching has captured significant interest due to technological advancements and the rise of immersive learning environments. As VR continues to revolutionize training methodologies, it holds promise for enhancing crucial cognitive skills in athletes, such as decision-making, motor responses, and perceptual accuracy. However, the impact of VR on these skills across different sports contexts remains largely underexplored, as does its effective deployment in training routines and its efficacy in simulating realistic, high-pressure scenarios.

This Research Topic aims to bridge these gaps by exploring how VR can be optimized for sports training and coaching development. By examining cognitive, psychological, and physical intersections, the goal is to assess VR's role as a transformative tool for athlete and coach development.

We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• VR's impact on cognitive processes in sports training and its integration into coaching strategies
• The effectiveness of VR scenarios in improving athletes’ decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Comparative studies on VR training versus traditional coaching methods
• The development of innovative VR training programs tailored for different sports and their application in coaching
• The psychological effects of VR on athletes during training and implications for coaching practices

This Research Topic is especially keen on contributions from the domains of sports science, cognitive psychology, medicine, and computer science, aiming to foster a comprehensive exploration of VR's capacity to reshape sports training.

Keywords: virtual reality, XR, sports, training, learning, athletes, virtual environment, interactive training, sport skill improvement

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.