Perceptual training effects on anticipation of direct and deceptive 7-m throws in handball

J Sports Sci. 2016;34(2):155-62. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2015.1039463. Epub 2015 Apr 28.

Abstract

We examined the effectiveness of perceptual training on the performance of handball goalkeepers when anticipating the direction of both direct and deceptive 7-m throws. Skilled goalkeepers were assigned equally to three matched-ability groups based on their pre-test performance: a perceptual training group (n = 14) received video-based perceptual training, a placebo training group (n = 14) received video-based regular training and a control group received no training. Participants in the perceptual training group significantly improved their performance compared to both placebo and control groups; however, anticipation of deceptive throws improved less than for direct throws. The results confirm that although anticipating deception in handball is a challenging task for goalkeepers, task-specific perceptual training can minimise its effect and improve performance.

Keywords: anticipation; deception; goalkeeper; handball; perceptual training.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anticipation, Psychological*
  • Athletic Performance / psychology*
  • Deception
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motion Perception / physiology*
  • Physical Education and Training / methods*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Sports / physiology
  • Sports / psychology*