Abstract
Virtual reality is becoming an important part of sports training in all age and performance categories. The research group consisted of 197 ice hockey players aged thirteen to fifteen.
All probands performed eight tests in virtual reality, the initial four focusing on cognitive functions and the remaining four on ice hockey-specific game skills. The strongest correlations were found between variables best solution and correct decision (0.87) and accurate pass 2 and pass success (0.91).
The strongest correlation between main variables was discovered between correct decision and looking for open lanes (0.60). Strong relationships of partial correlations were also found between correct decision and looking for open lanes (0.58) and time to play the puck and time movement anticipation (0.43).
Based on the findings in five key variables, three being game skills (time to play the puck, spatial orientation, looking for open lanes) and two being cognitive skills (time movement anticipation, multiple object tracking), it is possible to say that virtual reality can be used as a training tool for specific ice hockey training, especially for measuring specific ice hockey thinking.