Exploring the interaction of physical exercise load and pattern recall performance in female handball players

The role of offensive processes and age development for female soccer players' anticipation

Anticipation has been confirmed as a more valid measure for recognizing talented athletes than pattern recall alone. Anticipation of offensive processes in soccer, such as counter attacks and positional attacks, is essential for the sport. Additionally, the anticipation of elements such as the soccer ball, offensive and defensive players may also be affected by varied offensive processes. In this study, we combined anticipation with the pattern recall paradigm to measure the perceptual-cognitive skills of female soccer players across different age groups and offensive processes. Adult (U23) and adolescent (U15) female soccer players were recruited to complete the pattern anticipation task using coach-rated video segments. Our results show that adult female soccer players demonstrated greater accuracy in anticipating locations during positional attacks compared to adolescents, but no significant difference was observed during counter attacks. Furthermore, location anticipation accuracy is higher in all groups towards elements of the soccer ball and offensive players, but not defensive players, during counter attacks compared to positional attacks. These findings suggest that positional attack is the main advantage in perceptual-cognitive skills for adult female soccer players. Additionally, offensive processes and elements should be carefully considered when measuring perceptual-cognitive skills.

Influence of physical and psychological stress on decision-making performance of soccer referees

Soccer referees have to make quick and accurate decisions while experiencing physical stress (i.e., fatigue) and psychological stress (i.e., pressure from the crowd). Researchers have examined the influence of physical and psychological stress on skilled referees' decision-making performance separately; however, referees usually experience both types of stress simultaneously. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of both physical and psychological stress on skilled and less-skilled soccer referees' decision-making performance. To simulate the physical and psychological stress during a game, 25 referees were asked to make foul decisions while running on a treadmill and/or being exposed to auditory stress. Referees were more physically fatigued in the physical and psychologically stressed in the psychological stress condition. However, this only negatively influenced their decision-making performance in the video test during the submaximal physical stress condition, when compared to the resting condition. The results also indicate that the experienced referees learned to cope with fatigue and psychological stress regarding their cognitive processes. The effects seem to be differentially detrimental, depending on the league level of refereeing, but also whether physical and psychological stress are induced separately. The study protocol could help referees train in a simulated learning environment, besides on-field games.

Analysis of the presence and influence of Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit on posterior stiffness and isometric shoulder rotators strength ratio in recreational and amateur handball players

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether recreational and amateur handball players exhibit Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit (GIRD), and if it is accompanied by posterior stiffness and changes in shoulder rotators strength.

DESIGN

Cross-Sectional Study; SETTING: Research laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Indoor and beach handball players, members of handball teams or engaged in some handball recreational group.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Range of motion (ROM) of internal rotation (IR) and horizontal adduction (HA), and isometric internal and external rotators strength. Based on the ROM of internal rotation, they were allocated to groups with and without GIRD.

RESULTS

The dominant shoulder of GIRD group obtained a lower ROM of IR compared to the non-dominant shoulder of the same group (p < 0.01) and to the dominant (p = 0.02) and non-dominant (p = 0.01) shoulders of the group without GIRD. Less horizontal adduction was observed in both groups (p = 0.01), as well as greater external rotator strength (p = 0.01) and external/internal rotators strength ratio (p < 0.04) in the dominant shoulder. The rotators strength ratio was greater in GIRD group (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed the dominant shoulder had greater posterior stiffness and external rotator strength, regardless of GIRD. Also the group with GIRD showed higher rotators strength ratio.

Effects of domain-specific exercise load on speed and accuracy of a domain-specific perceptual-cognitive task

In the context of perceptual-cognitive expertise it is important to know whether physiological loads influence perceptual-cognitive performance. This study examined whether a handball specific physical exercise load influenced participants' speed and accuracy in a flicker task. At rest and during a specific interval exercise of 86.5-90% HRmax, 35 participants (experts: n=8, advanced: n=13, novices, n=14) performed a handball specific flicker task with two types of patterns (structured and unstructured). For reaction time, results revealed moderate effect sizes for group, with experts reacting faster than advanced and advanced reacting faster than novices, and for structure, with structured videos being performed faster than unstructured ones. A significant interaction for structure×group was also found, with experts and advanced players faster for structured videos, and novices faster for unstructured videos. For accuracy, significant main effects were found for structure with structured videos solved more accurately. A significant interaction for structure×group was revealed, with experts and advanced more accurate for structured scenes and novices more accurate for unstructured scenes. A significant interaction was also found for condition×structure; at rest, unstructured and structured scenes were performed with the same accuracy while under physical exercise, structured scenes were solved more accurately. No other interactions were found. These results were somewhat surprising given previous work in this area, although the impact of a specific physical exercise on a specific perceptual-cognitive task may be different from those tested generally.