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 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 handednessDiscusses the origins and development of laterality in humansSummarizes the impact of laterality on motor control and sports performanceEncompasses research on both individual and team sportsIncludes research on skill acquisition, coaching, and development of expertiseCovers research on laterality in preferred hand, foot, and eye use in sports

1. Laterality in Sports: More Than Two Sides of the Same Coin

Section A. Laterality – An Important and Often Disregarded Topic 2. Origins, Development, and Persistence of Laterality in Humans 3. In Fencing, Are Left-Handers Trouble for Right-Handers? What Fencing Masters Said in the Past and What Scientists Say Today 4. Measurement of Laterality and Its Relevance for Sports 5. Laterality and Its Role in Talent Identification and Athlete Development 6. Perspectives From Sports Medicine

Section B. Motor Control and Learning 7. What Can We Learn About Cognition From Studying Handedness? Insights From Cognitive Neuroscience 8. Laterality of Basic Motor Control Mechanisms: Different Roles of the Right and Left Brain Hemispheres 9. Effector Transfer 10. Near Misses and the Effect of Attentional Asymmetries on Sporting Performance

Section C. Performance in Sports 11. Laterality in Individualized Sports 12. Performance Differences Between Left- and Right-Sided Athletes in One-on-One Interactive Sports 13. Biomechanical Considerations of Laterality in Sport 14. Laterality Effects on Performance in Team Sports: Insights From Soccer and Basketball 15. Skill Acquisition in Left- and Right-Dominant Athletes: Insights From Elite Coaching