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Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open
Journal article
Defining elite esports athletes: a scoping review
International review of sport and exercise psychology, Vol.First online
14/08/2024
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Abstract
In this scoping review, we aimed to (1) provide clarity on terms used to describe elite esport samples, (2) identify the indicators used to describe elite esport samples, (3) collate rationales provided for defining esports samples as elite, and (4) draw conclusions on how to define elite esport samples. Electronic database and manual searches conducted for the final time in March 2024 yielded 7,802 records. Sixty-three studies published since 2012, with 1,768 e’athletes, satisfied the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. In total, 71% of the studies did not define ‘elite’ when classifying their samples. In the remaining studies, elite esport samples were defined through four categories: (1) highest level of competition, (2) professional status, (3) in-game achievement, and (4) domain experience. Of the 63 studies, 29 classified their samples as elite through one category, and 34 included justifications incorporating two or more categories. We propose a 2-step working elite classification system for esports samples that considers a player's highest level of competition and success at that level. Furthermore, we propose a set of reporting guidelines for elite e'athletes, which encourages researchers to unpack: (1) the success of the e’athletes, and (2) the prominence of the esport.
Details
- Title
- Defining elite esports athletes: a scoping review
- Creators
- Dylan Poulus - Southern Cross University, Faculty of HealthBenjamin T. Sharpe - University of ChichesterPatricia C Jackman - University of LincolnChristian Swann - Southern Cross University, Human SciencesKyle Bennett - Southern Cross University, Human Sciences
- Publication Details
- International review of sport and exercise psychology, Vol.First online
- Publisher
- Routledge; ABINGDON
- Identifiers
- 991013214111402368
- Copyright
- © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License, (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
- Academic Unit
- Human Sciences; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article