Laterality in Sports : Theories and Applications

__Laterality in Sports: Theories and Applications__ summarizes recent research on the neurophysiological foundations of handedness, and how left or right lateralization (affecting primary hand use, foot use, and eye use) affects motor control, performance outcome, skill acquisition, and achievement of sports expertise―both for one-on-one sports and team sports. As laterality research has matured, greater focus has been given to applications in human endeavors and, in particular, sport. The book examines performance within individual sports, and discusses the coaching ramifications of coaching to a specific lateralization preference. * Describes the neurophysiological foundations of handedness * Discusses the origins and development of laterality in humans * Summarizes the impact of laterality on motor control and sports performance * Encompasses research on both individual and team sports * Includes research on skill acquisition, coaching, and development of expertise * Covers research on laterality in preferred hand, foot, and eye use in sports Content: Front Matter,Copyright,List of Contributors,Editor Biographies,PrefaceEntitled to full textChapter 1 - Laterality in Sports: More Than Two Sides of the Same Coin, Pages 1-7, Florian Loffing, Norbert Hagemann, Bernd Strauss, Clare MacMahon Chapter 2 - Origins, Development, and Persistence of Laterality in Humans, Pages 11-30, Charlotte Faurie, Michel Raymond, Natalie Uomini Chapter 3 - In Fencing, Are Left-Handers Trouble for Right-Handers? What Fencing Masters Said in the Past and What Scientists Say Today, Pages 31-64, Lauren Julius Harris Chapter 4 - Measurement of Laterality and Its Relevance for Sports, Pages 65-86, Till Utesch, Stijn Valentijn Mentzel, Bernd Strauss, Dirk Büsch Chapter 5 - Laterality and Its Role in Talent Identification and Athlete Development, Pages 87-105, Jörg Schorer, Judith Tirp, Christina Steingröver, Joseph Baker Chapter 6 - Perspectives From Sports Medicine, Pages 107-131, Todd S. Ellenbecker Chapter 7 - What Can We Learn About Cognition From Studying Handedness? Insights From Cognitive Neuroscience, Pages 135-153, Jacqueline A. de Nooijer, Roel M. Willems Chapter 8 - Laterality of Basic Motor Control Mechanisms: Different Roles of the Right and Left Brain Hemispheres, Pages 155-177, Robert L. Sainburg Chapter 9 - Effector Transfer, Pages 179-203, Charles H. Shea, Stefan Panzer, Deanna M. Kennedy Chapter 10 - Near Misses and the Effect of Attentional Asymmetries on Sporting Performance, Pages 205-224, Owen Churches, Michael E.R. Nicholls Chapter 11 - Laterality in Individualized Sports, Pages 227-247, Thomas Heinen, Christina Bermeitinger, Christoph von Laßberg Chapter 12 - Performance Differences Between Left- and Right-Sided Athletes in One-on-One Interactive Sports, Pages 249-277, Florian Loffing, Norbert Hagemann Chapter 13 - Biomechanical Considerations of Laterality in Sport, Pages 279-308, Lucy Parrington, Kevin Ball Chapter 14 - Laterality Effects on Performance in Team Sports: Insights From Soccer and Basketball, Pages 309-328, Tino Stöckel, David P. Carey Chapter 15 - Skill Acquisition in Left- and Right-Dominant Athletes: Insights From Elite Coaching, Pages 329-355, Dave Whiteside, Tim Buszard, Georgia Giblin, Machar Reid Index, Pages 357-362 Control of movement is central to successful sports performance. Laterality is a critical part of this movement control as players typically have a preference for relying on a dominant side. Tennis players may hold the racket primarily in their dominant hand, and soccer or football players may kick with their dominant foot. Laterality also comes into play in the direction to turn as in performing a spin in figure skating or which eye to use when aiming at a target. Laterality in sports summarizes research findings in this area from psychology, evolutionary biology, and neuroscience. Coverage includes the origins and persistence of laterality in humans; measurement of laterality and its relevance in sports; the cognitive neuroscience of laterality; laterality's impact on talent identification, skill acquisition, and athlete development; performance differences between left- and right-sided athletes; laterality in individual and team sports; biomechanical aspects of laterality; and sports medicine perspectives on laterality. Chapters review current research and discuss the implications of these findings for sport practice

Laterality in Sports: Theories and Applications summarizes recent research on the neurophysiological foundations of handedness, and how left or right lateralization (affecting primary hand use, foot use, and eye use) affects motor control, performance outcome, skill acquisition, and achievement of sports expertise—both for one-on-one sports and team sports. As laterality research has matured, greater focus has been given to applications in human endeavours and, in particular, sport. The book examines performance within individual sports, and discusses the coaching ramifications of coaching to a specific lateralization preference.

• Describes the neurophysiological foundations of handedness
• Discusses the origins and development of laterality in humans
• Summarizes the impact of laterality on motor control and sports performance
• Encompasses research on both individual and team sports
• Includes research on skill acquisition, coaching, and development of expertise
• Covers research on laterality in preferred hand, foot, and eye use in sports