Influence of Divided Attention on Sports Performance Among Basketball Players of the Sports Association of the National Institute of Youth and Sports of Abidjan (AS INJS Abidjan, Ivory Coast)

<i>Context: </i>In modern team sports such as basketball, athletic performance plays a central role, both in promoting athletes and in the attractiveness of the discipline. It directly conditions collective and individual success. However, in the African competitive context, the cognitive determinants of this performance, particularly the role of attentional mechanisms such as divided attention, remain insufficiently explored. <i>Objective: </i>This study evaluates the influence of divided attention on the athletic performance of basketball players from the Sports Association of the National Institute of Youth and Sports of Abidjan. <i>Methodology: </i>The study is analytical, cross-sectional and quantitative. It is conducted using a sample of 36 athletes (18 men and 18 women) playing in the second division of the national basketball championship. For data collection, a neuropsychological test (symbol grid) is used to assess divided attention and a match observation grid to measure sports performance in 3-on-3 (3 x 3) format matches. <i>Results: </i>The results show that women have a higher visual accuracy rate and a higher level of divided attention than men. However, memory accuracy does not show a significant difference between the sexes. The level of divided attention does not vary significantly depending on the outcome of the match. Technical-tactical performances, such as rebounds and assists, are influenced by the level of divided attention, while interceptions do not seem to depend on attention. Finally, game errors, such as turnovers and fouls, are influenced by the level of divided attention. <i>Conclusion: </i>The study concludes that divided attention positively influences certain sports performances in basketball players, including rebounds and assists, but has no significant impact on shooting performances. She therefore suggests integrating cognitive training into the preparation of study subjects to optimize their specific skills.