Perceptual Training Effects on Anticipation of Direct and Deceptive 7-Meter Throws in Team Handball

This research investigated the effects of video-based perceptual training on the performance of handball goalkeepers when anticipating the directions of both direct and deceptive 7-meter throws (i.e., penalty throws). Forty two Kuwaiti handball goalkeepers voluntarily participated in this study and were randomly assigned to 3 matched-ability groups based on their pre-test performance: participants in the perceptual training group received video-based perceptual training over 7 consecutive days; participants in the placebo training group received video-based regular training; and participants in the control group received no training. The primary findings demonstrated that video-based perceptual training significantly improved anticipatory performances from pre- to post-test under both throwing conditions (i.e., direct and deceptive). Although perceptual training significantly improved anticipation of direct and deceptive throws, anticipation of deceptive throws showed less improvement. The current findings support the first research hypothesis that perceptual training group would improve their anticipation under both throwing conditions more than placebo training and control groups. The findings also support the second research hypothesis that anticipation of deceptive 7-m throws would show less improvement compared to anticipation of direct throws. In conclusion, this study confirms the importance of perceptual training for anticipation skills in sport and adds to the literature that perceptual training can also improve anticipation of deceptive actions. In addition, this study confirms that deception in handball is a challenging task that goalkeepers can minimize, but cannot eliminate, its effect by enhancing their perceptual skills.