The relationship between sports activity and emotions in the formation of cognitive processes.

Emotions, their development and their effects have long been studied in multiple fields of science. Many disciplines like psychology, pedagogy, biology and neuroscience contributed to the realization of the current knowledge about emotions. Today, their evolutionary value is known thanks to the contribution of Darwin and numerous distinguished scholars, and many theories have followed each other over time, analysing the close relationship between emotions and cognitive processes. Furthermore, modern technologies resulted in a deeper understanding of these phenomenon, allowing the development of new theories, and their expansion and application to several field of study. Wherever the individual exists there are emotions, and that is why the sporting environmentcannot be exempt of them. People are involved in sport for several reasons, putting into play their emotion and being driven by them. Given the important educational value of sport, and its highly dynamic context, the emotional aspect must be strongly taken into account. The purpose of this work is to analyse the relationships between sports, emotions and cognitive processes and delve into their importance. We took into consideration several studies which highlighted the contribute of sport in promoting social and emotional development, creating a true virtuous circle, able to benefits several aspects of life. Furthermore, we considered the delicate and reciprocal relationship between emotions and performance in sport, and how the former can positively or negatively affect the latter. In conclusion we considered the educator as the main actor in the management social, emotional and cognitive development in the sporting environment.