This study aimed to investigate the impact of auditory distraction on visual search among basketball players. The study involved both elite (n = 21) and novice (n = 22) basketball players as participants. The Eyelink 1000 Plus was used to monitor the participants` percentage of fixation counts and fixation duration in areas of interest (AOI) under both within and without auditory distraction conditions. Additionally, cognitive load indicators, such as blink rate, were recorded. In the absence of auditory distraction, variations were observed in the percentage of fixation counts and fixation duration between the elite and novice groups across different AOIs. With the introduction of auditory distraction, both groups showed reduced percentages of fixation counts and fixation duration in the areas of opportunity, with the novice group exhibiting a more significant decrease than the elite group. Furthermore, in auditory distraction conditions, the blink rate of the novice group increased, while the elite group`s blink rate remained unaffected. Auditory distraction affects visual search performance in both elite and novice groups, with a more pronounced impact on the novice group.
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