SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS FOR DEVELOPING STRATEGIC THINKING IN ATHLETES

In the contemporary sports environment, athletic success is increasingly determined not only by physical abilities, technical skills, and tactical preparation but also by the athlete’s capacity for strategic thinking. Strategic thinking enables athletes to analyze complex competitive situations, anticipate future developments, make effective decisions under pressure, and adapt their actions according to changing circumstances. This competency has become a critical component of high-performance sport, where competitive advantages often depend on psychological flexibility, cognitive control, and intelligent decision-making. The research contributes to sports science by providing a conceptual framework for understanding strategic thinking as a multidimensional competency involving perception, analysis, decision-making, creativity, and self-regulation. The proposed approach can support coaches, sports educators, and athlete development specialists in designing more effective training programs aimed at improving competitive intelligence and long-term athletic performance.