Thierry Debanne

Decision-Making during Games by Professional Handball Coaches Using Regulatory Focus Theory

The main goal of this study, based on regulatory focus theory, is to assess the effects of the reward structure on the defensive strategy of handball teams. The results show that (a) a promotional defensive strategy is more often preferred in the second half of the second half-time than in any other game period and (b) second-division coaches are more likely to put their players in regulatory fit situations than are first-division coaches, and could, thus, be more influenced by affordance situations than first-division coaches, who would be more concerned with the ratio of strength between the teams.

Is the ball velocity dependent on expertise? A multidimensional study in handball

The goals of this study are to 1) compare the differences in anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics between elite and skilled players, 2) investigate these parameters and ball velocity in three conditions (standing position, with a three-step run and the difference between them) and 3) predict ball-throwing velocity. We measured general anthropometric parameters and upper-limb dynamic strength using medicine ball throwing tests. Lower-limb power, strength and reactivity were assessed using a hopping-in-place jumping test and a squat-jump test. Elite players are taller (+7.75%) and heavier (+24%) than skilled players, and have greater upper-limb strength (+23%), all p< .05. The ANOVA revealed a significant effect of expertise (p < .001) and of the type of overarm throw (p < .0001) on ball velocity, but with no interaction effect. The improvement obtained through a three-step run is 2.19 ± 0.72 m.s-1. Additionally, the best multiple regression models explained 73% of total variability including at least an isotonic test and an anthropometric variable. Finally, we validate the equations found on a 24-player independent sample (T(46)<1, n.s.) and they all are very stable whatever the sample.

Modes of Cognitive Control in Official Game Handball Coaching

The purpose of this paper is to identify the dynamic adjustment of the cognitive control modes used by three professional head coaches during the defensive part of a handball match and, in particular, to highlight the contextual factors that have an effect on these modes. Two main aspects characterize cognitive control modes: the level of abstraction (symbolic/subsymbolic) and the origin (internal-anticipative/external-reactive) of the data used for control. Verbal communications between three coaches and their teams were recorded during 15 matches. The verbal meaningful units were encoded using a general cognitive method introduced by Amalberti and Hoc and coded using a predicate–argument format with MacSHAPA software. Analysis shows relationships between the mode of cognitive control used by coaches and the level of difficulty characterizing the situation. When the level of difficulty is low, coaches favor a reactive mode of control guided by external and subsymbolic data, whereas they favor a more abstract level of control and more internal data when facing a difficult situation. In the latter case, different coaching styles are in evidence.