Christian Thue Bjørndal

• Kamuk Storm, Louise; Munk Svendsen, Annemari; Stambulova, Natalia; Barker, Dean; Ronkainen, Noora & Bjørndal, Christian Thue [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). Cultural leadership in physical education and youth sport: Consensus from a Nordic Think Tank. Scandinavian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (SJSEP). ISSN 2596-741X. doi: 10.7146/sjsep.v6i.141284.
• Røsten, Stian; Sæther, Stig Arve; Aspvik, Nils Petter & Bjørndal, Christian Thue (2023). Embedded, Embodied, Enculturated, and Enabling Processes: The Identification and Evaluation of Sporting Talent by Ice Hockey Coaches in Norwegian Youth National Teams. International Sport Coaching Journal. ISSN 2328-918X. 11(1), p. 113–123. doi: 10.1123/iscj.2022-0058. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Elite sports systems are characterized by structured attempts to identify, select, and develop talented athletes and to increase the likelihood that athletes will achieve future international success. Studies of such systems have focused mostly on the procedures and measures that are intended to improve talent identification, but less attention has been given to the crucial role of coaches. The aim of this case study is therefore to explore how coaches of Norwegian youth ice hockey national teams identify and evaluate sporting talent within these structured settings. The data were generated using nine semistructured interviews. These interviews included questions about how coaches identify talent and discussions about four hypothetical examples of ice hockey players, each with specific histories and skill sets. Building on recent developments in motor learning research, we contend that coaches identify and select talent using embodied (rather than entirely rational or cognitive) processes. These approaches are embedded in the ebb and flow of situated sports performances, and shaped by the broader and unique cultural settings in which they are situated. The results of this study show that talent identification and evaluation of sporting talent cannot, and should not, be separated from the subjectivities of the coaches themselves or from their individual preferences. The implications of this study for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.

• Øydna, Marie Loka & Bjørndal, Christian Thue (2022). Youth athlete learning and the dynamics of social performance in Norwegian elite handball. International Review for the Sociology of Sport. ISSN 1012-6902. doi: 10.1177/10126902221140844. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This study examines how the social interactions of youth handball players are entangled with the ideals, beliefs and norms associated with youth athlete learning in Norwegian handball and communicated through coaching practice. This qualitative study uses Goffman's interactional sociological lens to explore how players strategically manage their interactions with peers and coaches by balancing the risks of overuse and injury with the need to be seen as promising, committed players. Our data collection was based on four focus group interviews and five individual interviews with 24 female youth handball players. The athletes reported that they conformed with the social rules and expectations of acceptable behaviour in handball because they wished to avoid being discredited in the eyes of their peers and coaches. Additionally, they engaged with these expectations through self-censorship and behavioural caution, because doing so allowed them to sustain their identity as promising athletes within the current framework of athlete development. They also feared being perceived as less committed to their development. The findings highlight how the normative expectations of youth athletes affect their sense of agency and control, the behaviours they engage in, and their understandings of what it means to be a good athlete. An understanding of how athletes perform socially in ways that facilitate opportunities for ongoing development will help to facilitate more productive, ethical and meaningful practice and pedagogies.

• Bjørndal, Christian Thue; Gjesdal, Siv & Toering, Tryntsje Tsjitske (2022). Transforming coach education for the 21st century. In Petry, Karen & de Jong, Johan (Ed.), Education in sport and physical activity : future directions and global perspectives. Routledge. ISSN 9780367433604. p. 228–237. doi: 10.4324/9781003002666-24.
• Gjesdal, Siv; Bjørndal, Christian T. & Luteberget, Live (2022). The relationship between the perception of reduced performance due to injury or illness and basic psychological need satisfaction in Norwegian youth elite handball: a cross-lagged panel analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (SJSEP). ISSN 2596-741X. 3, p. 76–82. doi: 10.7146/sjsep.v3i.120880. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This study investigated the relationship between perceived reduction in performance due to injury or illness (RPII) and basic psychological need satisfaction in youth elite handball. Participants were 174 elite youth handball players between 15 to 18 years of age, from five different sport schools. It was a quantitative study, with two time points (one week apart), resulting in a crossed-lagged structural equation model. Competence and relatedness satisfaction were found invariant across the two time points, autonomy was not. The structural model showed good fit ((S- B χ²) = [df = 130, N= 174] = 182.327, p < .0017; CFI = .96; RMSEA = .05 [.03-.06], and SRMR = .08). Competence (β= .64, 95%CI: .51, .76), relatedness (β= .77, 95%CI: .66, .88) and RPII (β= .51, 95%CI: .37, .66) showed moderate temporal stability. When accounting for previous levels of the basic psychological needs, RPII negatively predicted competence (β= -.20, 95%CI: -.35, .83) and relatedness (β= -.16, 95%CI: -.30, -.01). Taken together, these findings suggest that experiencing RPII can have implications for basic psychological need satisfaction in youth elite handball, showing that factors other than psychosocial ones may play a role therein.

• Sæther, Stig Arve; Feddersen, Niels Boysen; Andresen, Eirik Emil & Bjørndal, Christian T. (2022). Balancing sport and academic development: Perceptions of football players and coaches in two types of Norwegian school-based dual career development environments. International journal of sports science & coaching. ISSN 1747-9541. 17(6), p. 1270–1282. doi: 10.1177/17479541221111462. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Sports-friendly and elite sport schools seek to support pupils by providing balanced support which is intended to facilitate success both in sport and in academic work. This study investigates how ambitious football players in Norway experience the advantages and challenges of undertaking a ‘dual career’ as student-athletes. Eight players and five coaches (two club coaches and three school coaches) in total were interviewed from two sports-friendly schools and two elite sports schools, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. In the Elite Sport Programmes, the close integration of the school and club settings enabled coaches and student-athletes to plan and manage the overall workload and development of the student-athletes more easily. In contrast, players in the less structured Sports-Friendly Programmes experienced more concerns related to workload coordination but were also given more responsibility for their own decision making. This helped to facilitate better self-determination among the student-athletes but also increased their risk of overuse injuries. Our results indicate how different dual career development environments offer varying benefits, risks and developmental opportunities for student-athletes.

• Herrebrøden, Henrik & Bjørndal, Christian T. (2022). Youth International Experience Is a Limited Predictor of Senior Success in Football: The Relationship Between U17, U19, and U21 Experience and Senior Elite Participation Across Nations and Playing Positions. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. ISSN 2624-9367. 4. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.875530. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Athlete participation in youth international competitions is often regarded as crucial to the attainment of future success. However, the link between participation and performance in sports at youth levels and senior levels is unclear at best. To understand this relationship better we conducted two studies of male football players. In Study 1, we examined adult performance at the upper levels of football using a factor analysis and identified the characteristics that define what we termed a “Super Elite” level, which is the highest level of participation. This outcome measure was used in Study 2 to explore further the link between youth international experience and athletes' Super Elite experience. Overall, our results indicated that youth international experience is a limited predictor of participation at the Super Elite level of football. Participation at the U21 level was the strongest, most consistent predictor of Super Elite level participation. U17 participation was found to be either an insignificant or a negative predictor of subsequent participation in international football. The effect of U19 participation on later participation was partly significant, but weaker than the effect of U21 participation, and depended on the national context and the playing positions of the athletes. When looking at the effect of different youth career types, careers involving U21 international experience were the strongest predictors of later careers as Super Elite athletes. National governing bodies that want to ensure success in talent identification and development should therefore consider focusing fewer resources on youth international competitions in age categories before adulthood. A total of 1,482 players who had national football team experience at either the U17, U19, U21, or senior levels were included in our studies.

• Aksum, Karl Marius; Brotangen, Lars; Bjørndal, Christian T.; Magnaguagno, Lukas & Jordet, Geir (2021). Scanning activity of elite football players in 11 vs. 11 match play: An eye-tracking analysis on the duration and visual information of scanning. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 16(8). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244118. Show summary

  Visual perception in football ("soccer" in the U.S.) is increasingly becoming a key area of interest for researchers and practitioners. This exploratory case study investigated a sub-set of visual perception, namely visual exploratory scanning. The aim of this study was to examine the scanning of four elite football midfield players in an 11 vs. 11 real-game environment using mobile eye-tracking technology. More specifically, we measured the duration and information (number of teammates and opponents) of the players' scanning behavior. The results showed that the players' scanning duration was influenced by the ball context and the action undertaken with the ball at the moment of scan initiation. Furthermore, fixations were found in only 2.3% of the scans. Additionally, the results revealed that the stop point is the most information-rich part of a scan and that the players had more opponents than teammates inside their video frame during scans. Practical applications and further research recommendations are presented.

• Aksum, Karl Marius; Pokolm, Marius; Bjørndal, Christian T.; Rein, Robert; Memmert, Daniel & Jordet, Geir (2021). Scanning activity in elite youth football players. Journal of Sports Sciences. ISSN 0264-0414. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2021.1935115. Show summary

  The purpose of this study was to analyse the scanning behaviour of elite youth football players across different playing positions and age groups during high-level matches. Data was obtained by filming the 2018 UEFA European U17 and U19 Championship semi-finals and finals. A total of 53 outfield players from the four teams that reached the finals were analysed in both their respective semi-final and final matches, resulting in a total of 1686 attacking play situations. Ecological psychology provided us with the theoretical rationale for the study and informed our research hypotheses and interpretations. We found that U19 players performed more scans than U17 players. A positive relationship between scan frequency and pass success was also found. The results further suggest that opponent pressure and pitch position are both critical contextual factors that may influence scanning behaviour. In addition, central midfielders and central defenders were found to have higher scan frequencies than players in other positions. Our results support and extend previous research, suggesting that playing positions and age groups are important factors that impact visual perception and specifically scanning in football. Potential implications for coaches and recommendations for future studies are discussed.

• de la Rubia, Alfonso; Lorenzo, Alberto; Bjørndal, Christian T.; Kelly, Adam Leigh; García-Aliaga, Abraham & Lorenzo-Calvo, Jorge (2021). The Relative Age Effect on Competition Performance of Spanish International Handball Players: A Longitudinal Study. Frontiers in Psychology. ISSN 1664-1078. 12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.673434. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Competitive success is the ultimate objective of elite professional sport organisations. Relative age effects (RAE) impact athlete selection processes in the short and long-term performance. The aims of this study were: (i) examine the presence of RAE by gender, competitive level, and playing position, as well as evaluate the impact of RAE on individual (goals, percentage of effectiveness in shots, saves; percentage of effectiveness in saves, assists, turnovers, steals, blocked shots, penalties, minutes played, and minutes played per match) and collective competition performance (final team position); and (ii) analyse the impact of RAE on the evolutionary trends of individual performance in international competitions throughout 16 seasons in Spanish handball (2005–2020). Methods: The sample included 631 Spanish handball players (male: n = 359; female: n = 272). A Chi-square goodness-of-fit test was used to assess whether a skewed birthdate distribution occurred. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of independent measures was used to examine the individual and collective statistical parameters by birth quartiles. A linear regression in a Hopkins sheet were performed to compare individual performance trends. Results: The results revealed RAE in the male formative categories (p < 0.001), as well as the male and female senior categories (p < 0.05). By position, RAE especially affected the “centre-back” in the male formative (p < 0.01) and senior categories (p < 0.05). No significant relationship between RAE and individual performance was found in male formative categories, while an impact of RAE on the “minutes played” was detected in the female senior category (p < 0.05). With regard to collective performance, a higher number of relatively older handball players was observed in the best ranked teams in the male formative categories and in the quarter-final teams in the female formative categories (p < 0.05). Among the male players, relatively older players spent more minutes on the court than relatively younger players, although this advantage dissipated over time and did not lead to better performance. Among the female players, relatively younger players were found to perform better as the level of competitive handball increased. Discussion: These findings are important for talent identification and development policies in sport federations and other elite sport institutions by demonstrating the many unintended consequences of selections to international competitions at the youth level.

• Bjørndal, Christian T.; Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Gjesdal, Siv; Moseid, Christine Holm; Myklebust, Grethe & Luteberget, Live (2021). An Examination of Training Load, Match Activities, and Health Problems in Norwegian Youth Elite Handball Players Over One Competitive Season. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. ISSN 2624-9367. 3. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.635103. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Talent development is integral to the policy and organizational practice of competitive sport, but has also been associated with excessive amounts of training and competition, and athlete injuries and illnesses. The lack of available prospective data on the training and match activities of youth athletes and their health problems is therefore of concern. The aim of this study was two-fold: (a) to examine the amount and frequency of training load, match activities, injury and illness incidence, and prevalence among Norwegian youth elite handball players over the course of the 2018–2019 competitive season; and (b) to explore whether the injury rates are related to the sex or competition level of players, or their membership of the youth international team. We recruited 205 handball players (64% female, 36% male), aged 15–18 years (17.2 years ± 0.9) from five different sport school programs in southeast Norway. Data were collected daily from September 2018 to May 2019, during the competitive handball season. The variables included types of athlete activities, the number of activities, the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and the duration of training and matches. Injury and illness data were collected weekly using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) questionnaire. The mean number of matches per week per player was 0.9 ± 1.29; the number of weekly training events was 6.1 ± 4.4; and the mean weekly session RPE was 986 ± 1 412 arbitrary units. The players reported a total of 472 injuries, and the mean number of injuries per player was 2.3 ± 2.9. The results demonstrated a 53% weekly injury prevalence, of which 38% were categorized as substantial injuries. Male players and players who participated at the highest level of senior competition and/or the youth international team reported significantly lower weekly incidences of health problems, compared to other players. Our findings showed that players enrolled in sport school programs are exposed to high training and competition loads, and that both general and substantial health problems are common. The potential implications for talent development and future research are discussed.

• Bjørndal, Christian T. & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2020). Athlete Development in Norwegian Handball. In Baker, Joseph; Cobley, Stephen & Schorer, Jörg (Ed.), Talent Identification and Development in Sport : International Perspectives . Routledge. ISSN 9780367501983. p. 101–114.
• De La Rubia, Alfonso; Bjørndal, Christian T.; Sánchez-Molina, Joaquín; Yagüe, José María; Calvo, Jorge Lorenzo & Maroto-Izquierdo, Sergio (2020). The relationship between the relative age effect and performance among athletes in World Handball Championships. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 15(3). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230133. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This study examines the relative age effect (RAE) and its impact on the performance of elite male (n = 3,358) and female (n = 3,273) handball players in the U-19 (n = 2,188), U-21 (n = 2,031), and senior (n = 2,412) categories of the 2013/2014, 2015/2016 and 2017/2018 World Handball Championships organised by the International Handball Federation (IHF). The distribution of the players´ birth dates (by quartile: Q, and semester: S) by categories, handball playing positions, and membership of continental federations, were analysed for each of the three two-year periods in which the World Handball Championships took place. Differences between the observed and expected birth dates were tested using a chi-square goodness of fit test, and subsequent calculations were tested using odds ratios. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient was applied to test the correlation between the relative age of the athletes and (their) performance parameters. The results revealed a prevalence of the RAE on both male and female in the U-19 and U-21 categories (p<0.001), and a stabilisation of the RAE throughout the period analysed (2013/14-2017/2018). The RAE was not found in the female senior category (2013, 2015 and 2017) or male senior category (2013) (p>0.05). All playing positions were impacted by the RAE (p<0.001), and especially strong effect sizes were noted for male pivots (Vc = 0.66/0.68/0.60) and female center backs (Vc = 0.71/0.65/0.71). In our analysis of the handball continental federations, the RAE was found in all regions, except Oceania (p>0.05). The RAE also affected athlete performance: the oldest athletes played more minutes and achieved better performances. The RAE was associated with the final placement of the teams in each championship category, except in the male youth category. The findings clearly demonstrated that the RAE has a significant impact on the selection of male and female athletes to international competitions and the performance of both men and women in international handball. The potential implications of these findings for policy and practice are discussed.

• Aksum, Karl Marius; Magnaguagno, Lukas; Bjørndal, Christian T. & Jordet, Geir (2020). What Do Football Players Look at? An Eye-Tracking Analysis of the Visual Fixations of Players in 11 v 11 Elite Football Match Play. Frontiers in Psychology. ISSN 1664-1078. 11. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.562995. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Current knowledge of gaze behavior in football has primarily originated from eye-tracking research in laboratory settings. Using eye-tracking with elite players in a real-world 11 v 11 football game, this exploratory case study examined the visual fixations of midfield players in the Norwegian premier league. A total of 2,832 fixations by five players, aged 17–23 years (M = 19.84), were analyzed. Our results show that elite football midfielders increased their fixation duration when more information sources became available to them. Additionally, participants used shorter fixation durations than previously reported in laboratory studies. Furthermore, significant differences in gaze behavior between the attack and defense phases were found for both areas of interest and fixation location. Lastly, fixation locations were mainly on the ball, opponent, and teammate category and the player in possession of the ball. Combined, the results of this study enhance the knowledge of how elite footballers use their vision when playing under actual match-play conditions. They also suggest that laboratory designs may not be able to capture the dynamic environment that footballers experience in competition.

• Bjørndal, Christian T. & Gjesdal, Siv (2020). The role of sport school programmes in athlete development in Norwegian handball and football. European Journal for Sport and Society (EJSS). ISSN 1613-8171. 17(4), p. 374–23. doi: 10.1080/16138171.2020.1792131. Show summary

  Norwegian sport school programmes are increasing in popularity and making significant contributions to athlete success. The aim of this study was to investigate how school coaches perceive the role of sport school programmes in Norwegian handball and football, and how coaches attempt to promote athlete development. The study was based on group and individual interviews with 25 coaches from 10 different sport programmes in upper secondary schools. The challenges and opportunities experienced by the school coaches related primarily to the interactions between athletes and the different organisational actors within the talent development system, and to the potential risks associated with these. No single stakeholder in the Norwegian system has sole responsibility for talent identification or development. Instead, athlete development in individual and team sports is located and organised within a multi-centric organisational model of club, school, regional and national association-driven activities. Policymakers and practitioners therefore need to strengthen the formal and informal lines of communication between sport school programmes and club teams. Coaches need to ensure that the academic syllabus does not constrain the opportunities available for athlete development at the individual level. Coaches should also maintain flexible approaches to athlete development and practice.

• Bjørndal, Christian T. & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2019). Mastering Uncertainty: The Everyday Concerns of Expert Team Sport Coaches. In Corsby, Charles L.T. & Edwards, Christian Nicholas (Ed.), Exploring research in sports coaching and pedagogy : context and contingency. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISSN 978-1-5275-2828-4. p. 55–64.
• Bjørndal, Christian T. & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2019). Engaging with uncertainty in athlete development – orchestrating talent development through incremental leadership. Sport, Education and Society. ISSN 1357-3322. p. 1–13. doi: 10.1080/13573322.2019.1695198. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The development of young athletes is a complex process characterised by dynamic changes and uncertainty [Abbott, A., Button, C., Pepping, G.-J., & Collins, D. (2005). Unnatural selection: Talent identification and development in sport. Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences, 9(1), 61–88]. Talent development systems are characterised by a high level of uncertainty and unpredictability related to future outcomes [Phillips, E., Davids, K., Renshaw, I., & Portus, M. (2010). Expert performance in sport and the dynamics of talent development. Sports Medicine, 40(4), 271–283]. This complexity means that attempts to identify sporting talent and to predict who will eventually succeed have a low level of success [Johnston, K., Wattie, N., Schorer, J., & Baker, J. (2018). Talent identification in sport: A systematic review. Sports Medicine, 48(1), 97–109]. Research has challenged the trend of advocating formalised and normative systems of talent identification and development [Bailey, R., & Collins, D. (2013). The standard model of talent development and its discontents. Kinesiology Review, 2(4), 248– 259], and empirical research has identified different approaches to talent development [Bjørndal, C. T., Andersen, S. S., & Ronglan, L. T. (2017). Successful and unsuccessful transitions to the elite level: The youth national team pathways in Norwegian handball. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 13(4), 533–544]. However, surprisingly few researchers have focused their attention on the identification of effective, operational and concrete strategies for steering athlete developmental processes. This research gap is troubling because of the problematic nature of popular development strategies in modern elite sport systems. The complex and dynamic roles of coaches in steering athlete development have been explored by Bjørndal & Ronglan, using [Jones, R. L., & Wallace, M. (2005). Another bad day at the training ground: Coping with ambiguity in the coaching context. Sport, Education and Society, 10(1), 119–134] conceptualisation of coaching as a form of orchestration. However, the usefulness of this conceptualisation has been criticised because although it reflects the complexity of talent development, it is difficult to use as a foundation for a practical, everyday conceptualisation of the challenges and opportunities associated with talent development. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to deepen and to refine the conceptualisation of coaching within complex athlete development settings. The paper explores [Lindblom, C. E. (1959). The science of “muddling through”. Public Administration Review, 19(2), 79–88] seminal idea of incrementalism to operationalise and refine the notion of ‘leadership by orchestration’ in the context of talent development. Developing a coaching strategy based on incremental leadership should therefore be seen as an attempt to better coordinate, plan and act on the uncertainties associated with talent development.

• Bjørndal, Christian T.; Luteberget, Live; Till, Kevin & Holm, Simen (2018). The relative age effect in selection to international team matches in Norwegian handball. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 13(12). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209288. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Many elite sport organisations have introduced structured talent identification and development (TID) initiatives in youth sports to better facilitate elite sport performance. However, selection mechanisms for TID programmes (e.g., junior international team) are biased towards relatively older athletes and limited studies exist with Scandinavian contexts. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the relative age effect (RAE) in youth, junior and senior male and female international team selections among Norwegian handball players (n = 657). A Chi-square goodness-of-fit test assessed whether a skewed birthdate distribution occurred at the youth, junior and senior international team levels and odds-ratios were calculated for RAE distribution. Moreover, a Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess differences between the number of international youth, junior and senior level appearances by birth quartiles. Significant uneven birth date distributions were shown for youth (χ2(7) = female 40.383 and male 105.716, p <0.001) and junior (χ2(7) = female 27.427 and male 30.948, p <0.001) international players, favouring the relatively older player (odds-ratio of 1.9–8.3). At the senior level, no uneven distribution was identified. The comparison of the number of matches in each age category and the quartile of birth showed a difference in the women’s youth category, where players in quartile 8 had a significantly lower number of appearances compared to quartile 1. The results form part of a growing body of knowledge about selection mechanisms in sport, which favours relatively older athletes within Norwegian Handball. Such findings are important for policy and practice for informing TID programmes for inclusive selection opportunities for all players.

• Bjørndal, Christian T.; Luteberget, Live & Holm, Simen (2018). The Relationship between Early and Senior Level Participation in International Women's and Men's Handball. The Journal of Human Kinetics. ISSN 1640-5544. 63(1), p. 73–84. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2018-0008. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  International competitions at the youth elite level have become an important part of attempts to identify, foster and develop sporting talent. However, sports science scholars disagree strongly about the value and importance of such competitions because little is known about the relationship between early performance, at both the team and individual level, and later success in adult elite sports. The first aim of this study was therefore to explore the relationship between international match experience at the youth international team level and subsequent match experience at the junior and the senior international team levels. The second aim of this study was to explore the relationship between youth national team results and subsequent junior and senior national team results in international competitions. The individual-level analysis was based on official match participation statistics of all Norwegian handball players with either youth, junior and/or senior national team experience (n = 657) between the years 1993 and 2017. The team level analysis was based on team result rankings from the handball European and World Championships at the youth, junior and senior national team levels during this period. Statistical analysis at the individual level showed a significant difference between those handball players who did and did not have international match exposure at the youth and junior levels, and the number of matches they played at the senior international team level. No to weak correlations were found between the number of matches played at the youth, junior and senior international team levels. Statistical analysis at the team level showed a strong correlation between result rankings at the youth, junior and senior international team levels. Collectively, these findings suggest that having youth and junior international experience is strongly associated with the number of matches played at the senior international level. However, the number of matches played at the youth and junior international levels does not appear to determine success or predict which players will or will not achieve success at the senior international level.

• Bjørndal, Christian T.; Andersen, Svein S & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2018). Successful and unsuccessful transitions to the elite level: The youth national team pathways in Norwegian handball. International journal of sports science & coaching. ISSN 1747-9541. 13(4), p. 533–544. doi: 10.1177/1747954117740014. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The aim of this study was to explore successful and unsuccessful transitions in Norwegian handball from the youth player level to the adult elite level. The nine youth players in our strategic sample were interviewed in-depth about their experiences. Five of the nine athletes had established themselves successfully at the adult elite level; four had either quit or continued to play at a lower level during the previous season. The data were first inductively analysed before the theoretical analysis was conducted. This enabled us to develop a comprehensive understanding of each athlete’s developmental path and transitions and enabled a comparison between the different outcomes. The lifespan model was used a basis for understanding the individual pathways of development and the transitions made. The ecology of games framework was used to contextualise the individual processes within the particular organisational context of Norwegian handball. The results show how the application of the talent development model used in Norwegian handball is frequently experienced as one which is exhausting for athletes. For a significant number, it may lead to injuries or burnout. Further, our findings demonstrate that there is a thin line separating two different outcomes: (a) a dropout due to a loss of motivation and meaning and (b) a successful transition to the elite level. We discuss how the organisational context of Norwegian handball leads to unintended consequences, both positive and negative, for athletes. Incidents and decisions beyond an athlete’s immediate environment can facilitate or inhibit successful transitions to the elite level.

• Bjørndal, Christian T. & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2017). Orchestrating talent development: youth players’ developmental experiences in Scandinavian team sports. Sports Coaching Review. ISSN 2164-0629. doi: 10.1080/21640629.2017.1317172. Show summary

  The aim of this study was to investigate athletes’ contemporary experiences of their pursuits toward the adult elite level within a Scandinavian team sport setting. The athletes in this study were involved in multiple teams that were led by different coaches. 12 youth handball players, aged 16–17 years, with national team experience were interviewed in-depth. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and an inductive analysis was undertaken. The findings revealed five main themes central to the players’ pursuits: (a) time pressure and prioritising; (b) complimentary influences; (c) conflicting goals and demands; (d) balancing load and recovery; and (e) coordination challenges. The conceptual notion of coach orchestration is shown to be potentially relevant to understanding the role of coaches involved in talent development. In this paper, the concept of coach orchestration is expanded to encompass what coaches must consider to facilitate individual development within and across different team settings.

• Bjørndal, Christian T.; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Andersen, Svein S (2015). Talent development as an ecology of games: a case study of Norwegian handball. Sport, Education and Society. ISSN 1357-3322. doi: 10.1080/13573322.2015.1087398. Show summary

  Structured talent identification and development, it has been argued, is one of the foundations of international sporting success and many modern elite sport systems have applied normative talent development (TD) models. The success of Norwegian handball, however, is based on an alternative approach to TD. Norwegian handball is characterized by a heterarchical organizational structure in which several key actors function highly autonomously. The aim of this article is three-fold: (a) to describe the organization of TD in Norwegian handball, (b) to identify how the inherent organizational characteristics of Norwegian handball have influenced the TD processes used and (c) to discuss if contemporary TD models provide an adequate conceptualization of the model used in Norwegian handball. This case study includes three units of analysis: (i) the overall organizational structure of Norwegian handball, (ii) the characteristics of the key actors involved and (iii) the intercommunication and collaborations of the key actors. The data sources were (a) documents and (b) interviews with 11 key informants. The informants were selected strategically to represent experienced coaches and professionals from multiple organizational units. The National Handball Federation uses a broad-based model for TD: 23% of male handball players and 15% of female handball players from the age of 13–17 years participate in regional-level initiatives in addition to practising daily in community-based volunteer sport clubs and sport schools. Findings reveal that the broad base of TD initiatives creates multiple access points to the talent pipeline for adolescents. However, because the heterarchical structure involves many actors, the unintended consequences are often related to (im)properly managing training and competition loads. There is a need therefore for welldeveloped coordination mechanisms and good communication between the key actors involved.

• Andersen, Svein S; Bjørndal, Christian T. & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2015). The ecology of talent development in the Nordic elite sport model. In Andersen, Svein S; Houlihan, Barrie & Ronglan, Lars Tore (Ed.), Managing elite sport systems : research and practice. Routledge. ISSN 978-1-138-80327-5. p. 49–66.

View all works in Cristin

• Saarinen, Milla; Phipps, Daniel John & Bjørndal, Christian Thue (2024). Mental health in student-athletes in Norwegian lower secondary sport schools. BMJ Open sport & exercise medicine. ISSN 2055-7647. 10(2), p. 1–5. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2024-001955.
• Myklebust, Grethe; Munkvold, Emilie; Hägglund, Martin; Bahr, Roald; Møller, Merete & Bjørndal, Christian Thue [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Why does it work? Proposed mechanisms of effect in injury prevention programs in football and handball: a scoping review of 84 studies.
• Bjørndal, Christian Thue; Myklebust, Grethe; Møller, Merete & Grindem, Hege (2024). Unveiling the significance of sociocultural dynamics in youth sport injury research: a comprehensive narrative review.
• Sjølie, Emilie Scholten; McKay, Carly; Gjesdal, Siv; Grindem, Hege; Myklebust, Grethe & Bjørndal, Christian Thue [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Targeting injury prevention behavior in youth handball and football: perspectives from 528 players and 337 coaches - a cross sectional study.
• Sjølie, Emilie Scholten; McKay, Carly; Gjesdal, Siv; Grindem, Hege; Myklebust, Grethe & Bjørndal, Christian Thue [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Injury prevention behavior in youth handball and football: perspectives from 528 players and 337 coaches - a cross sectional study.
• Herrebrøden, Henrik; Gray, Rob; Schack, Thomas & Bjørndal, Christian Thue (2023). Editorial: Learning and skill acquisition in sports: theoretical perspectives. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. ISSN 2624-9367. 5. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2023.1360500.
• Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Bjørndal, Christian Thue (2023). Barneidrett: Tidlig spesialisering øker risikoen for utbrenthet og frafall. Dagsavisen. ISSN 1503-2892.
• Sjølie, Emilie Scholten; Møller, Merete; Grindem, Hege; Myklebust, Grethe & Bjørndal, Christian Thue (2023). Injury prevention and injury prevention behavior in youth handball and football.
• Hausken-Sutter, Solveig Elisabeth Sand; Bjørndal, Christian Thue; Myklebust, Grethe; Møller, Merete & Grindem, Hege (2023). Gjennomførbarhetsstudie - metode og resultat.
• Bjørndal, Christian Thue; Myklebust, Grethe; Møller, Merete & Grindem, Hege (2023). Gjennomførbarhetsstudie - metode og resultat.
• Møller, Merete; Grindem, Hege; Bjørndal, Christian Thue & Myklebust, Grethe (2023). Injury prevention and injury prevention behavior in youth handball and football.
• Moen, Christian; Myklebust, Grethe; Munkvold, Emilie; Hägglund, Martin; Bahr, Roald & Møller, Merete [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). Hvorfor virker de? Effektmekanismer i skadeforebyggende programmer i fotball og håndball.
• Sjølie, Emilie Scholten; McKay, Carly; Gjesdal, Siv; Grindem, Hege; Myklebust, Grethe & Bjørndal, Christian Thue [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2023). Similar injury prevention behavior in youth handball and football: a cross-sectional study of 865 coaches and players.
• Hausken, Solveig Elisabeth Sand; Bjørndal, Christian Thue; Myklebust, Grethe; Møller, Merete & Grindem, Hege (2022). Sosiale og kulturelle forhold kan påvirke idrettsskader.
• Moen, Christian; Myklebust, Grethe; Hagglund, Martin; Bahr, Roald; Møller, Merete & Bjørndal, Christian Thue [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Biomedisinsk perspektiv på skadeforebygging.
• Sjølie, Emilie Scholten; Gjesdal, Siv; McKay, Carly; Grindem, Hege; Myklebust, Grethe & Bjørndal, Christian Thue [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Holdninger og atferd: skader og skadeforebygging.
• Herrebrøden, Henrik & Bjørndal, Christian Thue (2022). Youth international experience is a limited predictor of senior success in football: The relationship between U17, U19, and U21 experience and senior elite participation.
• Herrebrøden, Henrik & Bjørndal, Christian T. (2022). Corrigendum: Youth International Experience Is a Limited Predictor of Senior Success in Football: The Relationship Between U17, U19, and U21 Experience and Senior Elite Participation Across Nations and Playing Positions (Front. Sports Act. Living, (2022), 4, (875530), 10.3389/fspor.2022.875530). Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. ISSN 2624-9367. 4. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.954943.
• Berntsen, Hedda & Bjørndal, Christian T. (2020). Veien til toppidrett og Helvete er brolagt med gode intensjoner. NIH-bloggen.
• Bjørndal, Christian T.; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Andersen, Svein S (2016). The diversity of developmental paths among youth athletes: A 3-year longitudinal study of Norwegian handball players. Talent Development and Excellence. ISSN 1869-0459. 8(2), p. 20–32.
• Bjørndal, Christian T. (2017). Muddling through - The dynamics of talent development in Norwegian women's handball . Norges idrettshøgskole. ISSN 978-82-502-0540-6.

View all works in Cristin