This study examines the relationship between physical education (PE) and critical thinking. The main goal is to determine the impact of collaborative learning and visualization on students' critical thinking in PE. The sample is represented by 430 student athletes (average age -20.5 years; average sports experience -7.4 years). For the team-based learning, basketball was chosen. Bloom's taxonomy was used as a planning tool for the inclusion of critical thinking in PE. Applied learning style "Understanding by Design" was used to develop "thinking players". A planning matrix was used to develop approaches to problem solving. For visualization, the Dartfish EasyTag-Note platform, an application for video game analytics, was used. The measurement of critical thinking skills (CTS) before and after the experiment was carried out using the theory of five components: hypothesis, induction, deduction, and arguments' interpretation and evaluation. The average discrimination index (0.48), the average difficulty index (0.62), and the general Cronbach's alpha (0.78) indicate the average complexity of the instrument, its ability to distinguish well between different answers, and acceptable reliability. To determine different teaching methods' effects, the study used ANOVA (Analysis of variance). CTS scores were selected as the dependent variable. Univariate tests showed that the experimental group had significantly higher CTS scores than the control group in posttest. According to the analysis results, a significant difference was revealed in the rate of change in the assessment of CTS from the preliminary test to the post-experimental testing, therefore, experimental group students improved their CTS to a greater extent than control group students. The study complements and builds on previous literature on CTS in PE. The conclusions obtained in the study can be addressed to teachers and administrators of educational institutions in which PE lessons are held, as well as to representatives of educational institutions that specialize in sports pedagogy. The use of the proposed approach will allow one to teach physical culture and sports from the point of view of enhancing cognitive skills.
