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Does Visual Training Enhance Athletes' Decision-Making Skills and Sport-Specific Performance? A Systematic Review and
Yuqiang Guo1,2, Chao Chen3, Jian Peng4
1Science Research Center of Sports Training, China Institute of Sport Science, Beijing, China.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|October 2, 2025
Summary
Visual training (VT) significantly enhances athletes' decision-making response time and sport-specific performance. While not statistically significant across subgroups, trends suggest individual differences and training design may influence VT effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Human Performance
- Cognitive Training
Background:
- Athletes require rapid decision-making and high sport-specific performance.
- Visual training (VT) is a potential intervention to enhance these skills.
- The moderating effects of participant and training factors on VT efficacy are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the impact of visual training (VT) on athletes' decision-making skills and sport-specific performance.
- To assess how participant- and training-related factors moderate the effects of VT.
- To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials through meta-analysis.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across major scientific databases (Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus) up to January 2025.
- Inclusion of randomized controlled trials with baseline and follow-up measures assessing VT effects on decision-making and performance.
- Meta-analysis of data from 27 studies involving 669 healthy athletes.
Main Results:
- Visual training significantly improved decision-making response time (SMD = 0.85, p < 0.01).
- Visual training significantly enhanced sport-specific performance (SMD = 0.49, p = 0.01).
- Subgroup analyses showed no statistically significant differences based on participant characteristics or training protocols, though trends suggested potential modulation.
Conclusions:
- Visual training is a promising supplementary intervention for athletes, effectively improving response time and sport-specific performance.
- Individual differences and training design may influence VT outcomes, warranting further investigation.
- Future research should explore longer intervention periods and refined protocols to optimize VT benefits across diverse athlete populations.
