The first objective of this research was to analyze the relationships between the sports psychological profile, competitive anxiety, mood and self-efficacy in beach handball players. The second objective was to determine the predictive capacity of the psychological profile on competitive anxiety, moods and self-efficacy, which was assessed by linear regression analysis. One hundred and eighty-one beach handball players participated in this research (age: M = 25.68; SD = 5.95), of which 52.49% were male (n = 95) and 47.51% were female (n = 86). The Psychological Sports Execution Inventory (SPPI), the Competition Anxiety State Inventory 2 (CSAI-2), the Mood Profile (POMS) questionnaire and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) were used to obtain the data. Correlation and linear regression analyses reveal statistically significant associations between the constructs studied, both for the total sample and by gender. Specifically, they highlight the relationships between the different measures of the sports psychological profile with self-confidence (p < 0.001), as well as those established between negative coping control with competitive anxiety (p < 0.001), moods (p < 0.05) and general self-efficacy (p < 0.001).

The aim of this study was to analyze, in the framework of the mixed methods, the relationship of different contextual factors with the decisions shown in the finalization of the positional attack in beach handball. For this reason, a polar coordinates analysis was carried out, by gender, using as focal behaviors the simple and double goal, and the loss of possession of the attacking team, which are considered decisive in assessing the success of the decisions at the end of the positional attack. These focal behaviors have been linked to criteria that characterize the attack situation such as the minute, the score, the numerical balance, the defensive system and the duration. A total of 24 sessions were observed with the HOISAN computer software, using an ad hoc designed tool. The model of observation used was punctual, multidimensional, and nomothetic. The observation unit used for the positional attack from when the specialist gains control of play until the possession changes. The results obtained showed that an advantage of goals scored and the numerical balance situations of the teams modulate significantly the appropriate decision made by both categories. However, they also indicated differences in the flow of pairing behaviors for both categories in some aspects. Specifically, it has been observed that a longer duration of the attack in the female category has been linked significantly to a successful performance and the results also show that an elaborated attack is related to successful behaviors. In the male category, it has been observed that the technical fouls made by the attackers increase in the last minutes of the match. Likewise, as regards the to the opposing team’s defensive system, the results in the male category are related to successful behaviors before any of them; whereas, in the female category, when playing against a defensive pressure system, the results relate more to errors during the performance of the pass and reception. The use of polar coordinates for the estimation of technical-tactical relations allows, from a psychological point of view, determine the techniques and procedures of psychological intervention that optimize the action resources of the players individually and the team as a collective.

The aim of this research was to analyze decision making of the specialist in beach handball in the framework of mixed methods, and through the observation of their actions. To do this, and distinguishing it by genre, an analysis of polar coordinates was realized using the assist and completion of this specific position as behavior criteria. A total of 24 sessions were observed with the HOISAN computer software, using an ad hoc design tool. Observation design used was nomothetic, punctual, and multidimensional. The obtained results showed significant relations between the behavior criteria and conditional behaviors (pairing), showing significant relations different for male and female categories. Significant differences were estimated statistically about the importance of the specialist in the development of the static attack in beach handball and their influence in the final result of the match, based on their greater or lesser success in decision making. In the male category it is highlighted that the specialist’s assists are not positively related to a favorable score and that the attack usually ends up in the central areas against closed defensive systems; in addition, their successful completion decisions are produced by means of launches in the central zone, also against closed defensive systems; however, in the female category, specialists’ assists lead to end the attacks in flight on the far right against open defensive systems.

Cognitive functioning is acquiring special relevance when studying the factors that influence soccer performance. Although the relationship between cognitive functions and sport performance has an extensive literature in adult soccer players, the same does not happen in young players, where this association has not been explored in depth. This work arises with the objective of knowing the state of the issue and going in depth in this line of research in youth categories, between 8 and 19 years old. For this purpose, a systematic review has been carried out on the existing relationship between cognitive functioning and sports performance in youth soccer players. In order to carry out this systematic review, the articles published on this issue in the last 10 years were analyzed following the PRISMA method. For an exhaustive search of the literature, the database Web of Science (WoS), SCOPUS, Dialnet, PubMed and Google Scholar, among others, were used, including articles published both Spanish and English. Finally, 12 articles were analyzed and included in the review. The results showed significant relationship between cognitive functions and performance in youth soccer players, highlighting variables such as attention, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility or decision making, finding differences between scores obtained by elite soccer players and those obtained by amateur athletes or general population, being significantly higher in the first group. El funcionamiento cognitivo está adquiriendo especial relevancia a la hora de estudiar los factores que influyen en el rendimiento en fútbol. Si bien la relación entre funciones cognitivas y rendimiento deportivo cuenta con una literatura extensa en futbolistas adultos, no ocurre lo mismo en jugadores de edades tempranas, donde dicha asociación no se ha explorado en profundidad. Este trabajo surge con el propósito de conocer el estado de la cuestión y profundizar en esta línea de investigación en categorías infantiles y juveniles, de edades comprendidas entre los 8 y 19 años. Para ello, se ha llevado a cabo una revisión sistemática sobre las relaciones existentes entre el funcionamiento cognitivo y el rendimiento deportivo en jóvenes futbolistas. Para la realización de dicha revisión sistemática se analizaron los artículos publicados sobre esta cuestión en los últimos 10 años siguiendo el método PRISMA. Para una búsqueda exhaustiva de la literatura existente se han utilizado las bases de datos Web of Science (WoS), SCOPUS, Dialnet, PubMed y Google Scholar, entre otras, incluyendo artículos publicados tanto en lengua castellana como inglesa. Finalmente, 12 artículos fueron analizados e incluidos en la revisión. Los resultados mostraron que existen relaciones significativas entre las funciones cognitivas y el rendimiento en jóvenes futbolistas, de entre las cuales destacan variables como la atención, el control inhibitorio, la flexibilidad cognitiva o la toma de decisiones, encontrándose diferencias entre las puntuaciones obtenidas por futbolistas de élite y las obtenidas por deportistas amateurs o población general, siendo significativamente mayores en el primer grupo. O funcionamento cognitivo está adquirindo especial relevância no estudo dos fatores que influenciam o desempenho no futebol. Embora a relação entre funções cognitivas e desempenho esportivo seja extensa na literatura em jogadores de futebol adulto, o mesmo não ocorre em jogadores de tenra idade, onde essa associação ainda não foi explorada em profundidade. Este trabalho surge com o objetivo de conhecer o estado da questão e aprofundar esta linha de pesquisa nas categorias infanto-juvenil, na faixa etária entre 8 e 19 anos. Para tanto, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática sobre as relações entre funcionamento cognitivo e desempenho esportivo em jovens jogadores de futebol. Para a realização desta revisão sistemática, os artigos publicados sobre o assunto nos últimos 10 anos foram analisados ​​segundo o método PRISMA. Para uma busca exaustiva da literatura existente, foram utilizadas as bases de dados Web of Science (WoS), SCOPUS, Dialnet, PubMed e Google Scholar, entre outras, incluindo artigos publicados em espanhol e inglês. Por fim, 12 artigos foram analisados ​​e incluídos na revisão. Os resultados mostraram que existem relações significativas entre funções cognitivas e desempenho em jovens jogadores de futebol, entre as quais se destacam variáveis ​​como atenção, controle inibitório, flexibilidade cognitiva ou tomada de decisão, encontrando diferenças entre os escores obtidos por jogadores de futebol de elite e aqueles. obtidos por atletas amadores ou pela população em geral, sendo significativamente maior no primeiro grupo.

The objective of this research is to analyze the performance of actions in a reduced game situation in a sample of young soccer players. This is a game format in which possession of the ball has to be maintained. The sample consisted of 85 young players aged between 12 and 16 years, observing a total of 58 reduced games and using an analysis instrument called the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI). The essential data quality analyses are carried out, including the use of correlation indexes, Cohen’s Kappa and the Phi index for intra- and inter-observer reliability. Generalizability and invariance analyses are also performed to estimate the reliability, validity and precision of the numerical structure and its generalizability to other samples or populations with similar distributions. An observational design of nomothetic, punctual and multidimensional types is used, and subsequently, a sequential analysis of the game actions is carried out from the observations. The results show significant relationships between decision-making behaviors (adequate and inadequate) and technical execution behaviors (adequate and inadequate). The findings have highlighted a clear relationship of interdependence between technical execution and decision making. This information is very useful for the design and planning of training oriented to the optimization of sport performance in soccer.

Nowadays, getting advantageous offensive situations in high-level basketball is being increasingly harder, so taking advantage of any situation in the game since the team has the ball is essential to be competitive. Therefore, the goal to achieve in this study is to evaluate using a mixed method strategy the behaviors happening in the application of the technical–tactical means performed in the transition play of professional basketball in Spain. An ad hoc observation tool made of 11 criteria and 83 exhaustive and mutually exclusive categories (E/ME) has been designed and validated by means of data quality and generalizability analyses. Indexes obtained show high reliability and validity allowing the proposed actions to be recorded (correlation coefficients are above 0.95 and generalizability coefficients are above 0.90 in all cases). A total number of 128 situations corresponding to eight games of Unicaja de Málaga in the Endesa League in the 18/19 season were observed with the Hoisan software. The analysis of the relationships among behaviors was performed using the polar coordinates technique where the one-on-one initiation, outside the zone, has been used as focal behavior. The estimation of the functions representing the vectors has also been performed to model the best fit that estimates, starting from a focal category, the relationship among this focal behavior and the rest of the mating behaviors for possible future observations. The results show significant relationships between the selected focal behavior and the mating behaviors, showing indications of behaviors allowing tactical interpretation of the game and the definition of intervention programs to improve the performance of the team.