Sveinn Þorgeirsson

Understanding the professional dynamics of physical education teachers is essential for fostering a sustainable educational environment. Previous research indicates a significant association between role stressors, perceived mattering and teachers’ professional identities. However, how these dynamics differ across diverse cultural and educational systems, such as those in Türkiye and Iceland, remains an area requiring empirical investigation. Using a cross-sectional survey design, this study explored the associations among marginalisation, isolation, role stressors and perceived mattering among physical education teachers in these two nations. Data were collected from 331 physical education teachers (Türkiye n = 208; Iceland n = 123). Comparative and regression analyses were conducted using validated instruments (Physical Education – Marginalisation and Isolation Survey, Teacher Role Stressors Survey and Perceived Mattering Questionnaire – Physical Education). The analyses revealed significant cross-national differences with large effect sizes. Regression analyses indicated that role ambiguity (RA) and role conflict were the strongest predictors of marginalisation, while RA and role overload significantly predicted professional isolation. Interaction effects with country were non-significant, indicating broadly consistent relationships across both national contexts. These findings suggest that, despite higher workloads, Turkish physical education teachers report higher levels of perceived mattering. In contrast, the Icelandic context highlights that policy-driven invisibility may exacerbate feelings of marginalisation. These results offer practical recommendations for policymakers and educational stakeholders to implement country-specific structural interventions to mitigate isolation and enhance the global status of physical education.

Increased use of analytics in sports has shed some light on various suboptimal strategies that have long been considered the norm. While sports such as basketball and baseball have adapted to a changing landscape, handball seems slow to adapt. The aim of this study was to examine i) the prevalence of high- and low-probability shots in semi-professional handball, ii) whether taking high-probability shots was associated with winning and iii) whether there were any differences between the men's and women's leagues. Six seasons in the Icelandic elite division were analyzed using a mixed-effects logistic regression model (1410 games, 879 games in the men's league and 531 games in the women's league). The study found that low-probability shots outnumbered high-probability shots (54.1% to 45.9%) and that high-probability shots were associated with winning (odds ratio of 1.46, compared to odds ratio of 0.73 in the low-probability shots). This was especially pronounced in the women's league (odds ratio of 1.77, compared to an odds ratio of 1.20 in the means league). These findings suggest that some handball teams could enhance their performance by focusing on creating high-probability shots. However, the success of such efforts depends not only on the attacking team's tactics but also on the defensive strategies employed by their opponents, which significantly influence the quality of scoring opportunities. Ultimately, the interplay between offensive and defensive approaches dictates the frequency and feasibility of high-probability shots.

Performance profiles of teams performance highlight areas of weaknesses and strengths for coaches to inform their decision-making on how to spend their limited training time with athletes. This study used a stepwise discriminative analysis approach comparing one successful team's (TEAM) performances through five consecutive seasons against a) other top four teams (TOP4) and b) teams with a final rank between 5th and eight (LOW) in a semi-professional league. The predictive model created was used to set forth a performance profile for the selected team. A total of 95 matches of the TEAM's matches from the last five seasons are in the analysis. The objective was to create a performance profile with relevant performance indicators selected based on the discriminant analysis results of the selected TEAM and discuss its practical applicability. For matches against other TOP4 teams, the predictive model created consisted of three variables; legal stops, blocked shots and 9 m shots, classifying 72.6% correctly. The LOW ranked teams model had six variables and correctly classified 94.4% of cases (assists, blocked shots, legal stops, the goalkeeper saved shots, 2-minute exclusion, and shot efficiency). The selected variables are presented in Table 4, with medians and a 95% confidence interval of the median as a team performance profile. The profile provides the coaches with two models containing values that can serve as a reference for this team's performance. The profile of this TEAM's performances during the last five seasons generally aligns with the variables associated with success in other studies in female handball.

Indications of laterall biases favouring left-handers have been found in various sports; especially interactive sports where the athletes have limited time to react to incoming objects. The aim of this study was therefore to explore whether any lateral biases exist in handball by examining 7-meter shots. A total of 6846 7-meter throws from 240 7-meter shooters across four seasons in the semi-professional Icelandic elite handball division (male and female) were analyzed. Out of the 240 7-meter shooters, of which 151 were male and 89 were female, 22% were left-handed (22% of the males and 20% of the females). The left-handed 7-meter shooters took a disproportionate number of the 7-meter shots, with left-handed shooters performing 29% of the 7-meter shots (27% in the male league and 33% in the female league). The results of a Bayesian two-level analysis indicated that left-handedness is not associated with greater success from the 7-meter line at the semi-professional level.

An asymmetry in the prevalence of left-handedness vs. right-handedness in society has supposedly resulted in negative frequency-dependent advantages for left-handers in interactive sports. The aim of this study was to test whether these advantages apply to handball by examining whether being left-handed is beneficial when executing 7 m shots, a highly unimanual movement. All 1,625 7 m shots at the men’s 2016–2022 European championships were analyzed using a Bayesian two-level analysis. While the results did not indicate that left-handers were more likely to score from any single 7 m shot, left-handers were overrepresented among the designated shooters compared to both the population as a whole (38% vs. 11.6%) and left-handers on any given handball team (38% vs. 25%). The implication here was that handedness plays no role in the outcome of 7 m shots at the world-class level, but handedness does appear to play a role in who becomes a world-class 7 m shooter.

Handball can be considered a complex game. Sports performance analysis is a relevant topic for scientists and coaches. The objectives of the present study were: (i) to compare handball game-related statistics by match outcome (winning and losing teams) and (ii) to identify characteristics that discriminate the performance in elite men´s handball. The game-related statistics of the 324 games played in the last four Olympic Games (Athens, Greece, 2004; Beijing, China, 2008; London, United Kingdom, 2012; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2016) were analyzed. Differences between match outcomes (winning or losing teams) were determined by using the chi-squared statistic, and by calculating the effect sizes of the differences. A discriminant analysis was then performed applying the sample-splitting method according to match outcomes. The results showed that the differences between winning and losing teams were shots, 9 m shots, assists, goalkeeper-blocked shots fast break. Also, discriminant analysis selected four variables (shots, goalkeeper-blocked shots, technical foul, and attacks) that classified correctly 82% of matches (Wilks's lambda=0.575; canonical correlation index 0.652). The selected variables included offensive and defensive predictors: Shots, goalkeeper-blocked shots, technical foul, attacks. Coaches and players can use these results as a reference against which to assess their performance and plan their team’s training.Resumen. El balonmano puede considerarse un juego complejo. El análisis del rendimiento deportivo es un tópico relevante para los científicos y entrenadores. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron: (i) comparar las estadísticas de juego en balonmano en función del contexto (equipos ganadores y perdedores) e (ii) identificar las estadísticas que discriminan el rendimiento en el balonmano masculino de élite. Se analizaron las estadísticas de juego de los 324 partidos disputados en los últimos cuatro Juegos Olímpicos (Atenas, Grecia, 2004, Beijing, China, 2008, Londres, Reino Unido, 2012 y Río de Janeiro, Brasil, 2016). Las diferencias entre los equipos ganadores y perdedores) se determinaron usando el estadístico chi-cuadrado y calculando los tamaños del efecto de las diferencias. A continuación, se realizó un análisis discriminante aplicando el método de por pasos. Los resultados mostraron que las diferencias entre los equipos vencedores y perdedores se presentaron en las variables lanzamientos de 9 m, asistencias, lanzamientos bloqueados por el portero en situación de contrataque. Además, el análisis discriminante seleccionó cuatro variables (lanzamientos, lanzamientos bloqueados por el portero, falta técnica y número de ataques) que clasificaron correctamente el 82% de los partidos (Lambda de Wilks=0,575; índice de correlación canónica=0,652). Las variables seleccionadas incluyeron predictores ofensivos y defensivos: lanzamientos, paradas del portero, faltas técnicas y ataques. Los entrenadores y los jugadores pueden utilizar estos resultados como referencia para evaluar su rendimiento y planificar el entrenamiento del equipo.