Attention and athletic performance: A pilot study from a person–environment–occupation-performance model perspective

Abstract

Introduction: Attention is a critical component of athletic performance, especially in sports that require quick decision-making and strategic responses. This pilot study aimed to design and evaluated a structured attention training intervention based on the person-environment-occupation-performance (PEOP) model to enhance the attentional and athletic abilities of wheelchair basketball players. Methods: A one-group pre–post-test design was used with eight professional athletes. The intervention incorporated PEOP-based principles by addressing personal (cognitive), environmental (distracting stimuli) and occupational (basketball-specific tasks) factors and occupational performance. The athletes participated in 10 sessions combining attention-focused cognitive strategies and simulated sports activities. Attention skills were assessed through a customised performance task co-developed by occupational therapists and the team coach. Findings: Results showed reductions in attentional errors, increased shot accuracy and improved task completion times. These outcomes reflect functional gains in cognitive performance under game-like conditions and support the relevance of PEOP-guided interventions in adaptive sports contexts. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility and utility of PEOP-informed attention training for athletes with physical disabilities. By incorporating cognitive skill development into meaningful athletic activities, occupational therapy can effectively contribute to the overall development of athletes.