Relationship between cognitive abilities and level of competition in ice hockey

By including in this study ice hockey players at different levels of competition, we will try to identify which cognitive skills distinguish an elite athlete from a lower level athlete.

An important aspect of competitive sport is to be able to assess and evaluate sport-specific skills, but also to identify potential areas of development. Today, most sports have good opportunities to quantify technical skills and physical status.

However, one area that is less developed is the ability to assess cognitive skills necessary for successful sport performance. Increased knowledge of this could have implications for both sport science and applied practice, and could be a tool for training cognitive skills necessary for athletic development. This is likely to be even more so at the elite level where it is often small details that can be crucial to take the next step forward.

By including in this study ice hockey players at different levels of competition, we will try to identify which cognitive skills that distinguish an elite athlete from a lower level athlete. The choice of ice hockey is based on the sport's high demands on attentional functions and quick decision-making.