Regulatory Focus and Penalty Taking in Handball

Abstract: Penalty-taking performance in handball within a self-regulatory focus framework was examined. In a two-independent group design, regulatory framings (either promotion or prevention) were given to participants (N = 25) prior to penalty-taking. More precisely, Swedish male (n = 15) and female (n = 10) players of the third male and second female Swedish Leagues were randomly allocated to shoot three penalties each under either a promotion-framed (n = 13; Mage = 20.77, SD = 3.77 years) or a prevention-framed (n = 12; Mage = 19.25, SD = 2.09 years) condition. Positive and negative affect were measured to assess pre-performance emotional states. Findings showed that promotion–focused individuals performed better in a promotion– framed penalty (i.e. fit) than in a prevention–framed (i.e. mismatch). Moreover, when in regulatory fit, pre-performance positive emotions were reported to be greater than when in mismatch. Findings are discussed in terms of role of fit and emotional states in pressureperformance critical situations.