How to score: Individual and team determinants of 7 m throw performances in men's German Handball Bundesliga

Abstract

To better understand performance at 7-meter penalty throw (7 m throw), we investigated the effect of behavioral aspects of goalkeepers and throwers as well as general aspects as team strengths on the scoring efficiency. We analyzed 11,009 7 m throws from three seasons of the German Handball Bundesliga. The analysis was conducted using statistical methods, including chi-square tests and ANOVA, to examine the relationships between these factors and the likelihood of scoring. Our results show that successful teams are awarded with more 7 m throws and have higher scoring efficiency compared to less successful teams. Furthermore, behavioral aspects as throwing type and throwing direction influence the scoring efficiency. In contrast mixed or no effects have been found for the number of fakes and hesitations, or position of the goalkeeper, respectively. Based on these findings and their discussion we offer practical recommendation to improve scoring and defending efficiencies at 7 m throws. Throwers should prioritize technical decision-making and precision, as advanced shot techniques are more effective than basic deceptive moves like fakes. Goalkeeper positioning, especially offensive positioning, plays a crucial role in forcing misses and should be recognized as a key aspect of goalkeeper performance. Furthermore, we speculate that single behavioral aspects might not be the major aspects for the outcome of a 7 m throw, rather psychological aspects should be considered to further understand performance at 7 m throws in team-handball.