Effects of Team Timeouts on the Teams’ Scoring Performance in Elite Handball Close Games

This study identified temporal effects (immediate, short-term, and medium-term effect) of team timeouts on elite handball scoring performance in reference to several situational variables that may influence performance: match status, game location, quality of the opposition, game period, and game type. The sample consisted of 646 team timeouts from 142 close games (score differences less than or equal to five goals) of the 2011/2012 men’s Spanish Professional Handball League (ASOBAL League). For each team timeout, the goals scored and conceded within the previous and post timeout 1st, 3rd and 5th ball possessions were recorded for the teams that called a timeout and for their opponents. Multiple linear regression models were used for analysis. The results showed positive effects on goals scored for the teams that called a timeout, with increases of 0.59, 1.40 and 1.85 goals for the periods within the previous and post team timeout 1st, 3rd and 5th ball possessions. Conversely, significant negative effects on goals scored were found for the opposing teams, with decreases of 0.59, 1.43 and 2.04 goals for the same periods, respectively. Unexpectedly, the influence of situational variables on scoring performance of the teams was only registered for certain game periods. These findings could be useful for a better team timeout management during games and competitions.