Chronopsychological approach to handball performance

This research examines, via two experimental studies, the effect of diurnal variations on the performance of men's handball players. In the first study, eighteen players performed physical (RSA, throwing speed), cognitive (SRT, CRT, Stroop) and psychological (POMS, Hooper) tests at 10 am, 2 pm and 6 pm. The results show a more negative mood in the morning, while vigor, cognitive performance and physical performance are higher in the afternoon and evening.The second study, carried out with six elite players in simulated matches, reveals that the sharing of cognitive content in the offensive phase is more convergent at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., while the divergence of understanding is more marked in the morning.Key words: diurnal variations; performance; mood; cognition; collective performance.