Cognitive Science and Information Technologies in Team Sports: Enhancing Performance and Safety

Abstract

This research and development program leverages the integration of cognitive science, experimental psychology, and advanced technologies to enhance performance and safety in team sports. Through the development and validation of three innovative applications—TAKTIK, SENIC, and ENTOURAGE—the program demonstrates the potential for interdisciplinary approaches to address critical challenges in tactical learning, injury detection, and concussion management. TAKTIK is a gamified, AI-driven playbook designed to support players in learning and retaining complex tactical formations in football. By generating dynamic, cognitive exercises tailored to individual response accuracy and speed, TAKTIK provides actionable feedback that improves engagement and comprehension of game strategies. A preliminary study involving high school and university football teams indicates significant enhancements in players’ learning processes, suggesting that TAKTIK effectively meets the cognitive demands of team sports athletes. SENIC (ENgaging and Immersive Cognitive Simulation) wishes to advance concussion management by embedding cognitive tasks within sport-specific contexts to add dimensions of face validity and ecological validity. SENIC is a computer-based assessment that measures processing speed – reaction time to identify a change in ball (or puck) possession between on-screen players in video sequences in the team sport plat (e.g., football, soccer, rugby, hockey, basketball) – and smooth pursuit through an external eye-tracking system. These dynamic indicators of cognitive functioning provide a comprehensive assessment of post-concussion impairments. Initial validation studies comparing SENIC to established tools, such as the ImPACT test, reveal promising evidence for its sensitivity and reliability in supporting return-to-play decisions, particularly in fast-paced team sports. ENTOURAGE builds on the insights gained from SENIC to extend concussion management beyond evaluation, focusing on education and decision-making support for athletes, parents, and coaches. By offering real-time insights and integrating seamlessly with SENIC data, ENTOURAGE empowers community stakeholders with the tools necessary for informed decision-making in stressful situations, such as managing potential concussions during games or practices. The complementary design of SENIC and ENTOURAGE reflects a unified framework aimed at democratizing access to effective concussion management tools in team sports. The overarching program relies on a shared approach across these tools, characterized by the use of artificial intelligence, gamification, and user-centered design to enhance cognitive engagement and ecological validity. Each application addresses the specific cognitive and practical challenges of team sports, emphasizing the importance of adaptive, contextually relevant solutions for both performance optimization and safety enhancement. By combining interdisciplinary research with advanced information technology, our program underscores the transformative potential of cognitive science in addressing complex challenges in team sports.

Keywords: Human performance, team sport, concussion, cognition, eye-tracking, adaptive systems, Decision-support system

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005954