Executive functions and sport agents

Abstract

The present review aims at investigating the scientific production with respect to the link between executive functions (EF) and sport agents (athletes, players, coaches, umpires). For that purpose, a series of searches were carried out on WoS that yielded 703 references. Upon a screening process following the PRISMA guidelines, a total of 94 papers were used to complete a bibliometric analysis together with a scoping review. Some underlying themes were detected, namely, domain-general vs domain-specific EF tests in sport, EF and type of sport, talent detection, EF and sport-specific skills, EF and position on the field/court, expert/elite paradigm and EF, EF and other sport agents and high-performance athletes with disabilities and the role of EF. In light of results, more longitudinal studies are required to confirm their value in athlete´s development, albeit the consensus with regard to their importance. Recent studies indicate the lack of predictive value of EF in talent detection. Likewise, there some indicators that point out to their role in open-skills, strategic sports as well as in the difference found between athletes and non-athletes and experts versus amateurs. In addition, domain-specific tasks are required to assess EF with both ecological and construct validity and EF should also be used to test other sport agents, such as coaches and referees/umpires.