Document Type : Original Article
Researchers
1 faculty of sport science, motor behavior team
2 Allame tabataei university faculty of sport science
3 department of sport science and motor behavior
Ministerial Ethics Committee
This study aims to predict free-throw performance under time pressure among players invited to the U16 boys’ national basketball team camp, focusing on cold (e.g., working memory, cognitive inhibition) and hot (e.g., emotion regulation, risk assessment) executive functions. Professional basketball’s demand for rapid decision-making in high-pressure situations makes it an ideal context for exploring cognitive and emotional interactions. Free throws in critical moments serve as a key performance indicator. This descriptive-correlational study involves 40 players, utilizing standardized tools: the N-Back Test for working memory, the Iowa Gambling Task for emotional decision-making, and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory for situational anxiety. Data will be collected at Azadi Sports Complex and a cognitive science lab, analyzed using statistical software. Hypotheses suggest that both executive function types positively influence performance, with their combined effect being significant. Conducted over three months, the study adheres to ethical standards, including informed consent and data confidentiality. Findings may enhance player performance and inform targeted training interventions.