Does VR Enhance Participants’ Sports Skills in Physical Education Settings? A Scoping Review

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of global technology, virtual reality (VR) technology is playing an increasingly vital role in sports education, particularly in the process of participants learning motor skills.This study aims to explore the application of virtual reality technology in physical education and its impact on participants’ learning of sports skills. Through a scoping review of 14 relevant literature sources and employing thematic analysis, it was found that virtual reality technology exerts a certain degree of positive influence on enhancing participants’ sports skills.At the same time, this study also points out the limitations and challenges that exist in current virtual reality technology research.For example, issues such as relatively limited attention to the Global South, a scarcity of research projects, a narrow range of research methodologies, data breaches, and ethical crises.Therefore, future research should expand its scope and sample size, conduct in-depth analyses of the risks associated with VR technology use and their underlying causes, and employ a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods. This approach will enable more precise examination of VR technology’s impact across different regions and sports disciplines, thereby providing robust support for advancing the application of virtual reality technology in global sports education.