Virtual Reality as a Perceptual-Motor Training Tool: Validity and Fidelity Assessments of a 4 × 100 m Relay Simulator

The use of virtual reality simulators for perceptual-motor training has increased in recent years. However, few virtual sport environments have been shown to be effective in transferring learning to the real world. From this perspective, concepts of validity and fidelity are known to be good predictors, highlighting the need to establish a method of testing them. This study measures the validity and fidelity of a relay simulator in the most comprehensive way by testing elements of physical, biomechanical, and psychological fidelity and construct validity. Twelve national-level athletes performed race initiation tasks during a baton handover in both virtual and real environment conditions. The athletes’ perceptual-motor behavior was compared on both group and individual scales (construct validity and biomechanical and psychological fidelity). These measures were complemented by measures of workload (psychological fidelity) and presence (physical fidelity). A group-scale analysis showed no significant difference in the initiation behavior of the athletes, and all of them reported high levels of presence. Moreover, individual-scale measures showed a clear maintenance of perceptual-motor behavior for most athletes. Despite few differences being found in workload, these results largely support the simulator’s validity and fidelity, which is an important step towards integrating the simulator into the training protocols of elite athletes.