Effect of artificial intelligence-assisted coaching on sports performance A systematic review and meta-analysis
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The conventional coaching method has been altered by how artificial intelligence (AI) is being applied to sports science by including the predictive analysis, real-time biomechanical feedback, workload optimization, and injury-prevention models. Although the use of AI-assisted coaching technology has become more popular at all levels of performance, the levels of quantitative synthesis of the implemented technology are not abundant. The subject matter was reviewed and meta-analysed to conduct a systematic review of information this time based on the publications published between 2010 and 2026, identifying the impacts of AI-guided intervention on sports performance outcomes. In accordance to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 39 of the studies were incorporated in the qualitative synthesis, and 17 of them met the criteria of quantitative meta-analyses. The calculations of the standardized mean differences were based on Hedges g and the random-effects model. The pooled study findings revealed that there is a statistically significant, moderate-to-large positive AI-assisted coaching on overall sports performance (g = 0.67, 95% CI [0.51, 0.83], p < .001) and heterogeneity that is moderate (I 2 = 58%). Subgroup analyses indicated that the strongest effects were on technical (g = 0.74), then tactical (g = 0.69), psychological (g = 0.62), injury prevention/rehabilitation (g = 0.59) and physical (g = 0.55) performance. The meta-assessment of the publication bias had no important influence of small studies. The results taken together support the idea that the evolution of the AI-based coaching technologies is extremely promising in increasing the performance in the multidimensional context and can be used a highly efficient tool to support the decisions within the contemporary sporting systems. Future studies need to target longitudinal design of experiments, anticipated resultant measures, and ethics governing frameworks of sustainable AI incorporation in sport.
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