DefinePK

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the relationship between motor reaction speed and short defensive moves in handball players, given that defensive effectiveness depends largely on a player's ability to respond quickly to motor and visual stimuli during play. The results indicate that reaction speed is a key factor in improving short defensive performance, such as rapid lateral movement, short advances or retreats, and changing direction to confront the attacker. Motor reaction speed enables a defender to quickly react to the opponent's movements, which increases the chances of intercepting passes or stopping attacks. The study also confirms that regular training in actual playing situations and reaction speed improvement exercises directly contributes to improving defensive performance efficiency, especially in short-term situations that require decision-making and execution within fractions of a second.