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

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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.