Motivational orientations and performance in penalty throws during elite male team handball games

This study is based on Regulatory Focus Theory and investigates the links between the subjects' motivational orientations for promotion or prevention and their performance in handball penalty throws. In a real-world setting with high stakes, we analyzed 327 penalties taken from 68 closed games. The results of the 7-meter throws constitute the dependent variable (Goal vs Miss). The independent variables are the situational focus ([critical moment (ie, final minute) = pressure] vs [non-critical moment = no pressure]), the reward structure (ie, [thrower's team is behind = losses reward structure] vs [thrower's team is ahead or teams are tied = gains reward structure), and the game location (home vs away). Using logistic regression analysis, the results show that when there is a fit between the situational focus and the reward structure, the thrower's performance is higher than when there is a mismatch (OR = 2.21; P = .004). In the same way, the thrower's performance is higher when there is high fit between the situational focus and the reward structure (OR = 1.78), than when there is a high mismatch (OR = 0.54). These results globally support the Regulatory Fit Theory in an ecological context.