Which cognitive and perceptual skills best discriminate elite female handball players

The purpose of this study was to identify which cognitive and perceptual skills best discriminate elite female handball players according the age group they belong to. sample consisted 73 Portuguese national teams’ players, aged between 11 29 years, with an average 7.5 (± 3.7) years practice. following tests were applied: Thurstone Identical Figures Test, Toulouse-Piéron Concentrated Attention Nideffer Attentional Interpersonal Style Inventory evaluate skills, polyreactiometer for Windows – PRWin information processing, evaluation protocol precision in anticipation using temporal occlusion paradigm. interpretation obtained discriminant function based on structure coefficients greater than |0.30|. Seniors’ is discriminated from that Talents by their better reaction, perception, attention times, namely, ability integrate several stimuli simultaneously a capacity anticipate future events more accurately. This discriminating model can help coaches recruit as well improve psychological training programmes.