Video games is a highly popular activity for athletes. Despite playing on a real pitch, they still seek the excitement and thrill in the virtual environment. Surpringly, playing video games does have it's benefits. Yes, it's addictive but fortunately game addict athletes know when to stop. There are dangers to excessive playing as well.
Video games have been inching their way into the sporting world for years. On 21 December, NBC Sports and Peacock viewers were able to watch the Kansas City Chiefs' 27-19 win over the the Houston Texans on an alternate broadcast which featured elements of Madden NFL 25, such as player ratings and graphics direct from the video game.
Two days before that, New York Jets owner, Woody Johnson, reportedly had turned down the chance to trade for current Cleveland Browns wide receiver, Jerry Jeudy, in the off-season because of his Madden in-game rating, according to The Athletic.
A surprising number of serious (and lengthy) studies have been done on the benefits of video games and how they positively impact sports performance. This may seem unexpected at first since video games are often depicted as an anti-social and stationary activity but these are just further stereotypes that have since been proven extremely incorrect (Richman, 2023).
A study by Green & Bavelier (2012) showed that video games increases players' ability to adapt to new environments. What's more, during these transitions and changes, gamers have a focus on winning and remaining highly competitive (Richman, 2023).
Being able to quickly adapt on the field or court is critical. Whether your team is winning or losing shouldn’t impact your focus or competitiveness. Playing video games can increase an athlete's drive and focus, even when outside factors attempt to get in the way (Richman, 2023).
It's believed that video games are great for hand-eye co-ordination. Now, this has been proven by multiple studies. In 2017, a study conducted by University of Toronto graduate students showed that gamers have much better co-ordination and tracking than non-gamers. Players were able to keep their eyes focused on a quick-moving square, showing superior focus (Richman, 2023).
Not only that, a study by Reynaldo & Christian (2020) showed that gamers have better response rates than non-gamers. This means playing video games not only gives you better focus but the ability to react to what you see faster than others (Richman, 2023).
Most competitive video games are all about teamwork and strategy. A game like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive can't be won if your team is unwilling to call out locations and make super-fast decisions together. In VALORANT, team-mates need to use synergy to combine abilities and get the upper hand on the opposition.
This level of communication and fast team-based decision-making is extremely important both in-game and on the field. Video games help players gain trust in one another and find efficient ways to communicate, implement strategies, and react to surprising outcomes as one (Richman, 2023).
You don't get good at video games overnight. Climbing ranked ladders takes patience, practice and dedication. Gamers will often play for hours at a time but it’s not just grinding matches; competitive players also practice their aim and watch old VODs to analyse what went wrong and what can be improved upon.
What also helps gamers continue to improve is to know when to quit. Before you become exhausted or toxic, it’s best to step away from the PC and do something relaxing to regain focus. It's this balance that really helps athletes improve but not push themselves into an easily avoidable injury (Richman, 2023).
While playing games that are constantly putting you in situations where you have to make quick or sometimes split-second decisions can help train your brain to absorb information more quickly and react to that situation.
Quicker decision making will help an athlete develop the skills to make right decisions at a fast pace on the field, which could be crucial to the individual or team’s performance. Studies have shown that people who play computer games hold an advantage in removing useless or unnecessary clutter faster – meaning they can see what and what isn’t going to make an impact.
Face-paced games like FPS or sports games are great to help subconsciously hone this skill, especially if those games have online capability offering the chance to play with other real-time players (Athletics Weekly, 2023).
Most games today can be played online, meaning with other players around the world. This is great for socialising and improving your communication skills which are vital for athletes. Having the ability to communicate confidently and complete objectives in computer games can easily be transferred to the field.
While socialising with gamers online and not in person, it helps you to keep connected with friends and helps you practice communication; which is beneficial on the field or the office (Athletics Weekly, 2023).
Problem-solving is not just a key attribute to have for an athlete, but it’s also vital to have good problem-solving skills in real life. As the team captain, you will be responsible for communicating with your team a change-up in team tactics to combat an opposing team’s play. The best games for problem-solving are usually strategy games but problems can be found in a variety of games like RPG (role-playing games) such as Assassin’s Creed or Fallout (Athletics Weekly, 2023).
It speaks volumes that health companies and clinics are introducing computer games to surgeons to improve hand-eye co-ordination and precision movements. This could be beneficial for an athlete whose sport is confined in a limited closed space, such as tennis, table tennis and squash.
The reaction times are essential for these sports and improved hand-eye co-ordination can help that. It has been shown that people who play video games over an extended or regular amount of time tend to have better hand-eye co-ordination and develop this skill faster (Athletics Weekly, 2023).
Games can help us zone out after a hard day’s work and, for some, provide comfort if they’ve had a stressful day. This is particularly important to athletes as they can face constant scrutiny from pundits if they have yet to perform to what’s expected from them.
For athletes, who often face intense pressure and constant scrutiny in their respective sports, online casinos can serve as a welcome escape. They offer enticing bonuses, promotions and loyalty programs that can further enhance the gaming experience for athletes.
Playing games will give athletes an anonymous way to rid themselves of any stress that may have occurred from a field game. Reducing stress levels will help the athlete perform to their maximum potential (Athletics Weekly, 2023).
Recent studies with students found that those who played video games had higher levels of creativity. In teams, sports creativity is essential for success and can allow the execution of team play and ideas.
Creativity helps a player showcase a unique play style and provides an unpredictable approach for opposing teams. This also ties in with problem-solving and tackling problems that may occur on the field. So, the benefits have shown that playing video games can't only develop but also improve critical skills that athletes need on the field.
There are a lot of video games based on sports; It is one of the most important reasons why people should play computer games as it could encourage them to pursue and participate in sports (Athletics Weekly, 2023).
However, there’s a darker side to gaming when it comes to athletes: it can affect their real-life performance. Athletes who spend too much time on video games might find it hard to balance their training, recovery, and gameplay. A few high-profile athletes have admitted that gaming has sometimes interfered with their sleep, practice sessions and even relationships (VANAS, no date).
Let’s be real, gaming addiction is a serious issue. For some athletes, gaming isn't just a hobby but a full-on obsession. In fact, the World Health Organization officially recognised gaming disorder as a mental health condition in 2019.
Some athletes have admitted to spending hours upon hours in front of their screens, neglecting practice, training and sometimes even important tournaments. The thrill of leveling up or improving your digital stats can take over and, if left unchecked, can interfere with an athlete's real-world success.
As fun as it is, gaming can sometimes cause athletes to lose focus on their primary goal – their sport. When you're training to be the best in the world, distractions like gaming can make it harder to stay at the top (VANAS, no date).
What’s interesting is how gaming can sometimes mimic an athlete’s real-life performance. For example, some athletes admit to feeling a sense of pride or disappointment based on how well their digital selves perform in games like NBA2K. If they play poorly in a game, it might affect their mindset on the court or vice versa. It's almost like the virtual world becomes a mirror to their real-life performance.
Athletes may start thinking about their virtual version more than their actual game on the field or court, and that can be distracting. That’s why maintaining a balance between gaming and training is super important (VANAS, no date).
When playing video games, there are a few questions that need to be answered: Is it bad to play video games before sports? Are athletes more vulnerable to gaming disorders? Should athletes play video games? (Kindbridge, 2022)
Popular research suggests that regular gaming can be beneficial for hand-eye co-ordination and reaction time. The question is: do these benefits translate to the court, track, field, rink or other competitive sporting arena? Dr. Marco Cardinale, who is the Head of Sports, Science and Research of the British Olympic Association, doesn’t believe so. He has stated that gaming before competition could instead be detrimental to athlete performance.
Cardinale states that the detriment is due to poor quality of sleep. Research consistently shows that gaming for even one hour per day can result in reduced sleep quality, fatigue, insomnia symptoms and delayed bedtimes and wake times. Given that the data driven importance of sleep for athletic performance can't be overstated, there is a direct line to be drawn here.
Timing appears to be key. It may be a good idea to put the controller down one or two nights before competition. It’s probably not OK to pick it back up on game-day no matter how well one slept. A study of Brazilian professional soccer players found that playing video games right before matches appeared to impair on-field decision-making performance involving accuracy. This implies an athlete can absorb higher levels of mental fatigue during time of play in their sport because they have already spent some of this energy on less important / casual play activities (Kindbridge, 2022).
Research has already shown that athletes are more prone to gambling disorder when compared to the general population. Is the same true for gaming disorders?
Gaming disorders (or video game disorders) has been recognised by the World Health Organization in its latest International Classification of Diseases. Moreover, the American Psychiatric Association has included Internet Gaming Disorder in the section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which requires further research before being elevated to the status of a full diagnosis.
To date, there are upwards of 231 million active gamers in the U.S.. Studies find that 1.4% to 7.3% are designated as addicted or problem gamers (respectively), although the measurement of what constitutes an addiction to games does currently vary from study to study. So, if athletes are more prone to be playing games for additional competition, leisure or relaxation; there's a cause for further investigation if effective services can be offered to this population (Kindbridge, 2022).
We can draw upon some of the same gaming motivations that make competitive athletes more vulnerable to gambling disorders to draw general conclusions about a predisposition to gaming disorders. High levels of energy and commitment, expectations of winning despite the odds, quest for perfectionism and a unrelenting willingness to make sacrifices to achieve victory are among them.
Recent research has indeed found an association of problematic video gaming in elite male athletes, so additional research is strongly recommended. Finding ways to achieve healthy leisure activities which help the athlete connect with their drives for mastery and competition are potential alternatives if video games become an unhealthy outlet for their personal time (Kindbridge, 2022).
Athletes are ultimately responsible for their own self-regulation and exclusion if need be. If an individual experiences sleep disruption and other symptoms and there is a measurable impact on athletic performance – the athlete should not engage in game play, in-season.
Otherwise, there’s no other logical reason competitive athletes should be restricted from casual game play unless they have an existing mental health diagnosis which connects with their gaming activities (Kindbridge, 2022).
To be honest, I was surprised to learn that there are benefits to playing video games. I believed it was nothing but bad news. I am partly right on the matter. I suppose the important aspect is that it can help athletes. It's vital that they don't overdo it. If they do, they might kiss their careers goodbye and they will have no one to blame but themselves.
Reference List
Athletics Weekly. (2023). What can athletes learn from gaming? [online]. Available from: https://athleticsweekly.com/exclusive/what-can-athletes-learn-from-gaming-1039966540/ (Accessed: 28 January 2025).
Kindbridge. (2022). Are athletes who play video games at risk? [online]. Available from: https://kindbridge.com/gaming/are-athletes-who-play-video-games-at-risk/ (Accessed: 28 January 2025).
Richman, O. (2023). Do video games make you a better sports athlete? [online]. Available from: https://www.si.com/esports/lifestyle/do-video-games-make-you-a-better-sports-athlete (Accessed: 28 January 2025).
VANAS. (no date). Professional athletes and video games [online]. Available from: https://www.vanas.ca/en/blog/professional-athletes-and-video-games (Accessed: 28 January 2025).