CORRELATIONAL STUDY OF EYE HAND CO-ORDINATION AND HAND REACTION TIME AMONG HANDBALL PLAYERS

Satinder Paul

ABSTRACT

Key words: Co-ordination, Reaction Time, Handball Player.

INTRODUCTION

Reaction time-is the time elapsed between the stimulus given and the initiation of the response to it. In other words reaction time may be defined as "the interval of time between the presentation of stimulus and initiation of the response." Johnson and Nelson 1982, Reaction time is affected by a number of variables. It is greatly affected by the type of sensory stimulus such as visual, auditory, touch, fatigue, motivation muscular tension, age and physique etc. There are many occasion in sports where speed of reaction and speed of movement are very vital factors. In general fast reaction are characteristics of great athletes in the sports performance at the higher competitive level. The results of sports competitions set world records by small fraction of seconds. In a context, where races and events are won by fraction of sec; the role of reaction time becomes very significant.

Co-ordination is one's ability to efficiently and effectively integrate the movements of different body parts especially during quick movement actions of various types.

The level of co-ordination between different players are sports specific and depends upon coaching of sports skills. The co-ordination of individuals own body systems is a general motor ability which is predominantly one's innate quality. It may be greatly improved with coordination improving training and general practice of basic physical activities involving more than one muscle group actions like jumping throwing, catching and zigzag etc.

METHODOLOGY

Procedure

The study was conducted on 20 male handball players, state level tournament held at Sujanpur Tira, Himachal Pradesh, North Zone of the India during the year 2009-2010, the age group of the samples ranged from 17-21 years and all the samples selected randomly.

TOOLS

To assess the reaction time and co-ordination of the subjects, Nelson Hand Reaction Time Test and Eye Hand Co-ordination Test (Ball Transfer) was used.

ANALYSIS OF DATA AND DISCUSSION

The main purpose of this study was to correlate eye hand co-ordination and hand reaction time of Handball players. The eye hand co-ordination was measured with Ball Transfer Test and hand reaction time was measured with Nelson Hand Reaction Time Test. The raw data was calculated with the Formula i.e. Product Moment Correlation Method was used.

The collected data of eye hand co-ordination and hand reaction time is presented in Table No.1

Table No.1

Correlation of Eye Hand Co-ordination and Hand Reaction Time of Handball Players

From Table no. 1, r = 1.01 and N=20, to verify the significance of r at 95% confidence the tabulated value of r was seen from the table for N-2 = 18 degree of freedom. The value of r at .05 is .44 and hence, tabulated r is less than calculated r; since calculated r = 1.01 is greater than tabulated r = .44 and hence correlation between eye hand co-ordination and hand reaction time of handball players, is significant at 95% confidence and also verify the significance of r at 99%. The value of r at .01 is .56 hence, tabulated r is less than calculated r, and thus correlation between eye hand co-ordination and hand reaction time of handball players, is significant at 99% confidence.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of data gathered and statistical interpretation results indicates that:

· There is a positive correlation between eye-hand co-ordination and hand reaction time.

· Most of the handball players were better in eye hand coordination as well as hand reaction time.

REFERENCES

Barrow, H.M. and Nary, R.M., A Practical Approach to Measurement in Physical Education Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, 1979.

Kamlesh M.L; Psychology of Physical education and sports, New Delhi; 1983.

Kansal, D.K; Test and Measurement in Sports and Physical Education, New Delhi; D.V.S Pub; 1996.

Rushall, B.S; Mental Skills training for sports (2^nd ed.); Belconnen, ACT, Australia; Australian Coaching Council.

Uppal, A.K., Principal of Sports Training, Friends Publication, Delhi, 2001.