Aron Gauti Laxdal

• Laxdal, Aron (2026). A Næssian Approach to Physical Education: What a Pedagogical Approach Based on the Philosophy of Arne Næss Could Look Like. Quest (National Association for Physical Education in Higher Education). ISSN 0033-6297. doi: 10.1080/00336297.2026.2746716. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Physical education is often criticized for relying on repetitive sport-based activities while neglecting broader educational aims such as personal development, conflict resolution, and sustainability. In response, this paper outlines a pedagogical approach inspired by the philosophy of Arne Næss. Drawing on principles from deep ecology and Næss’s personal approach to movement, the approach emphasizes four key tenets: redefining competition as a collaborative process, valuing movement for its intrinsic qualities, cultivating emotional control and empathy, and engaging with risk as a means of personal growth. Rather than proposing a fixed model, it offers a flexible framework that prioritizes process, reflection, and meaningful engagement. While not without practical limitations, the approach suggests how physical education might be reoriented toward simplicity, sustainability, and self-realization, providing an alternative to more performance-driven traditions.

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Kristiansen, Elsa & Høigaard, Rune (2026). How Katrine Lunde Became the Most Decorated Female Handball Player in History. Journal of Expertise. 9(2), p. 136–153. doi: https:/www.journalofexpertise.org/articles/volume9_issue2/index.html. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  How does Katrine Lunde describe and make sense of her journey to becoming the most decorated female handball player in history? How does she understand her ability to sustain world-class performances over more than two decades? These questions are explored in this qualitative single-case study of arguably the greatest female handball goalkeeper in the history of the sport. We utilized two distinct approaches when interviewing the athlete, namely the timeline approach and the photo elicitation approach. The interview was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis and interpreted using the bioecological model as a theoretical framework. The analysis yielded three themes: (1) The player: I don’t have to win, I just don’t want to lose; (2) The family: Whatever you choose to do, be the best; and (3) The national team: A match made in heaven. Katrine’s story highlights the importance she places on adaptation, discipline, and support in making sense of her career. Her journey offers insights into how long-term success in elite sport may be understood, experienced, and sustained by an athlete competing at the highest level.

• Ausland, Ådne; Solstad, Bård Erlend; Ivarsson, Andreas; Melin, Anna; Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Augustsson, Sofia Ryman [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2026). Perceived importance and self-evaluations of female-specific knowledge: current insights into sports coaching of female athletes. Sports Coaching Review. ISSN 2164-0629. p. 1–17. doi: 10.1080/21640629.2026.2659981. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Female athletes encounter biological challenges, such as puberty and hormonal health, embedded within psychosocial coaching environments. Despite their relevance, these topics remain insufficiently integrated into coach education programmes. This study surveyed 779 coaches in Norway and Sweden to examine perceived knowledge versus the importance of female-specific topics through a biopsychosocial perspective. Results revealed a consistent discrepancy: coaches rated these topics as highly important but reported limited knowledge. Latent profile analysis identified three distinct profiles: “High-Performance but Resource-Limited”, “Aware but Underprepared”, and “Confident but Unaware,” with no significant differences based on coach sex or education. Across profiles, coaches reported limited resource access and a strong need for education regarding how these factors impact communication, training, and well-being. These findings indicate persistent gaps in coach preparedness, highlighting the need for context-sensitive education. Integrating biologically grounded content within a biopsychosocial perspective may strengthen coaching practice and thus enhance female athletes´ long-term development.

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Andersen, Eivin Kragholm & Haugen, Tommy (2026). Når kroppsøving er ballspill: en gjennomgang av forskning på favorisering av idrettsflinke elever i kroppsøvingsfaget. Norsk pedagogisk tidsskrift. ISSN 0029-2052. 110(1), p. 19–34. doi: https:/www.scup.com/doi/10.18261/npt.110.1.3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Det overordnede målet med denne studien var å sammenfatte funnene fra tidligere studier om favorisering av idrettsflinke elever i kroppsøvingsfaget for å øke vår forståelse av problemet. Studien er gjennomført som en scoping review hvor 10 studier ble analysert i lys av Foucault sin forståelse av diskurs. Funnene viser at det er verdier og logikker fra ballidretten som i størst grad fører til favorisering, og at elever som ikke har erfaringer formet av deltakelse i ballidrett, blir marginalisert i faget. Idrettsdiskursen ser derfor ut til å handle om ferdigheter innen ballidretter.

• Augustsson, Sofia Ryman; Linner, Susanne; Solstad, Bård Erlend; Ausland, Ådne; Bjärsholm, Daniel & Ivarsson, Andreas [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2026). Development of the FIDES Athlete Development Program ‘girls are not small boys’: a digital educational intervention. BMJ Open sport & exercise medicine. 12(1), p. 003163–003163. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2025-003163. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives: To develop a sustainable and accessible educational programme on biopsychosocial female-specific topics, for young female athletes in organised sport, their parents and coaches for future testing and evaluation in a full-scale intervention study. Methods: A digital educational programme, along with its methodology, was developed in four steps: First, content validity of female-specific topics was identified through (a) literature reviews by an interdisciplinary research team and (b) an online survey of 1323 female athletes (aged 16–24 years) assessing perceived knowledge and knowledge needs regarding biopsychosocial topics. Second, film scripts based on identified topics were written, internally reviewed and evaluated by a pilot group of six 13–16-year-old female athletes. Third, online surveys assessing main and secondary outcomes were developed and tested in the pilot group. Finally, digital format and production were developed collaboratively with a film scholar and film technicians. Results: The intervention development yielded 12 videos of 5–7 min, featuring sports science researchers and female elite athletes sharing their perspectives on biopsychosocial topics specific to women. The protocol development produced a quasi-experimental, modified staircase cluster trial design, including bi-weekly assessment of main (ie, well-being and sporting experiences) and secondary outcomes (eg, perceived support) at baseline, pre-, post-intervention and post-post follow-up. Conclusion: This study outlines the development of a digital educational intervention for young female athletes, their parents and coaches, emphasising that interdisciplinary collaboration and user engagement are key to identifying intervention components and relevant outcomes.

• Vesterhus, Maria; Salamonsen, Malene; Haugen, Tommy & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2025). Konkurranse trigger … de fleste: Læreres refleksjoner over bruk av konkurranse i kroppsøvingsundervisningen. Journal for Research in Arts and Sports Education. 9(3), p. 87–105. doi: 10.23865/jased.v9.7540. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  I denne studien undersøker vi hvordan kroppsøvingslærere reflekterer rundt og praktiserer konkurranse i undervisningen i møte med elevene. Studien bygger på et kvalitativt survey-design med digital innsamling, der 149 lærere fra grunnskole og videregående skole besvarte fire åpne, forhåndsbestemte spørsmål. Datamaterialet ble analysert gjennom en refleksiv tematisk analyse, og tre hovedtemaer ble utviklet: (1) Konkurranse som pedagogisk paradoks, (2) Når konkurransen skaper både driv og distanse og (3) Når konkurransen utfordrer fellesskapet. I analysen belyser vi at lærere ser flere ulike fordeler ved å bruke konkurranse. Samtidig fremhever vi at selv om dette kan gjelde et flertall, kan konkurranse også føre til at elever trekker seg unna, og at det kan føre til krangling og konflikter. Temaene viser videre at lærere ofte støtter idealet om en verdibasert konkurranseforståelse, men at dette kan være vanskelig å realisere i praksis. Studien bidrar til økt refleksjon rundt konkurransens rolle i kroppsøving og peker på behovet for didaktiske strategier som fremmer både inkludering og læring blant elevene. 

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Aasen, Benjamin; Stensrud, Anna & Haugen, Tommy (2025). Who speaks out, and about what? An examination of how physical education is portrayed in Norwegian news media. Frontiers in Education. 10. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2025.1727242. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This study examined how physical education is portrayed in Norwegian print media from 2012 to 2022. Using content analysis informed by agenda-setting and framing perspectives, 256 newspaper articles were analyzed to identify dominant voices and themes. The findings show that students and university faculty are the most visible contributors, while teachers are underrepresented, especially in national media. Coverage largely mirrors academic discussions and tends to frame physical education through health-related and expert-driven narratives, often linking the subject to broader social and political debates. Such portrayals may narrow public understanding by overshadowing physical education’s educational and formative purposes. The study discusses how media framing can shape perceptions of physical education’s role in education and health policy and underscores the need for more balanced representations to foster a broader and more informed public debate about its value in society.

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen (2025). Where age doesn’t matter: no relative age effects in esports at the professional level. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. 7. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1699838. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Relative age effects (i.e., a systematic bias favouring individuals born earlier in the selection year) have been found in many traditional sports, especially among younger athletes in sports where physical maturation (e.g., increased size and strength) is advantageous. The aim of this study was to explore relative age effects in professional esports, which differ from traditional sports in some key areas. The birth months of 15,734 e-sport athletes playing ten different games were collected from Liquipedia and analyzed using chi-square tests. The analyses showed no practically meaningful relative age effects among the athletes, indicating that being relatively older does not yield advantages in gameplay. The same results applied across the various age groups as well as the different game types. This lack of relative age effects can likely be attributed to the cognitive and skill-based nature of esports, as well as the flexible and online nature of competitive environments in this domain

• Laxdal, Aron; Þorgeirsson, Sveinn; Saavedra, Jose M; Karunanayaka, Ruwan C; Ivarsson, Andreas & Sigurgeirsson, Ólafur [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2025). Is it time for a more analytical approach? Suboptimal shot selection strategies in handball. International journal of sports science & coaching. ISSN 1747-9541. doi: 10.1177/17479541251369049. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Increased use of analytics in sports has shed some light on various suboptimal strategies that have long been considered the norm. While sports such as basketball and baseball have adapted to a changing landscape, handball seems slow to adapt. The aim of this study was to examine i) the prevalence of high- and low-probability shots in semi-professional handball, ii) whether taking high-probability shots was associated with winning and iii) whether there were any differences between the men's and women's leagues. Six seasons in the Icelandic elite division were analyzed using a mixed-effects logistic regression model (1410 games, 879 games in the men's league and 531 games in the women's league). The study found that low-probability shots outnumbered high-probability shots (54.1% to 45.9%) and that high-probability shots were associated with winning (odds ratio of 1.46, compared to odds ratio of 0.73 in the low-probability shots). This was especially pronounced in the women's league (odds ratio of 1.77, compared to an odds ratio of 1.20 in the means league). These findings suggest that some handball teams could enhance their performance by focusing on creating high-probability shots. However, the success of such efforts depends not only on the attacking team's tactics but also on the defensive strategies employed by their opponents, which significantly influence the quality of scoring opportunities. Ultimately, the interplay between offensive and defensive approaches dictates the frequency and feasibility of high-probability shots.

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Byrkjedal, Per Thomas; Ivarsson, Andreas; Sigurgeirsson, Ólafur & Haugen, Tommy (2025). Fact or Fiction? Examining the Veracity of Common Myths Related to 7-meter Throws in Handball. The Journal of Human Kinetics. ISSN 1640-5544. doi: 10.5114/jhk/204312. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  There are several long-standing beliefs that persist in sport despite little or no evidence of them being true. The aim of this study was to assess the veracity of two such beliefs related to 7-meter (7-m) throws in handball: 1) that the fouled players should not take their own 7-m shots as their ability to score is compromised, and 2) that changing the 7-m shooter after a miss is more likely to lead to a goal than letting the player who missed try again. To assess the veracity of these beliefs 10,593 7-m shots from the Icelandic elite division were analyzed using a Bayesian three-level analysis. The results revealed that neither taking your own 7-m shot after being fouled nor taking a 7-m shot after missing the attempt appeared to have a negative effect on the outcome of 7-m shots. Coaches should therefore be able to let their most proficient 7-m shooters take any 7-m shot, regardless of preceding events, without any functional cost.

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Aasland, Erik (2025). ‘She was a rare diamond’: teachers’ experiences of teaching a visually impaired student in a friluftsliv programme. Sport, Education and Society. ISSN 1357-3322. p. 1–13. doi: 10.1080/13573322.2025.2488367. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Previous research into inclusive practices and adapted education in higher education have shown that educators appear to have limited knowledge and understanding of disabilities and inclusion. While there exists a plethora of research on disabled students in higher education in general, there is a dearth of research on disability in movement contexts within higher education, especially in the field of friluftsliv. The aim of this study was to explore the insights of university educators who instructed a visually impaired student in an outdoor education programme. The four teachers who participated in practical sessions with the student were interviewed using a semi-structured interview method. Three themes were constructed through a thematic analysis; ‘An enriching experience for us’, ‘She was a rare diamond and this is why we succeeded’ and ‘Her needs were secondary to the value of the activities’. While the teachers regarded getting the student through the programme as a success, they also appear to possess a rather narrow understanding of adapted education, although this may not have hampered the learning outcomes of the student, due to her motivation and prior experiences in a friluftsliv context. However, such understandings may inhibit the teachers’ abilities to adapt the programme to future students with disabilities.

• Radovan, Felicia; Solstad, Bård Erlend; Kjær, Jørgen; Melin, Anna; Ausland, Ådne & Bjärsholm, Daniel [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2025). Female athletes' knowledge of biopsychosocial puberty-related topics in sports. What is missing? Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. 7. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1596418. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introduction: Puberty has been identified as one of the main contributing factors for girls dropping out of sports during adolescence. Knowledge and social support can, however, help athletes navigate the biopsychosocial (BPS) puberty-related changes associated with this period. Yet, research on female athletes' knowledge about BPS puberty-related topics is lacking. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to examine female athletes' perceived knowledge and knowledge needs of BPS puberty-related topics during adolescence, explore interconnections across BPS domains, and investigate differences between athletes in team and individual sports.Method: A total of 1,323 Swedish and Norwegian female athletes (M age 18.7 ± 2.3 years, range 16–24) from ten sport disciplines [n = 657 (49.7%) team sport athletes; n = 656 (49.6%) individual sport athletes] completed an online survey in 2024 on perceived knowledge and knowledge needs regarding BPS puberty-related topics during adolescence.Results: Findings revealed low perceived knowledge and high knowledge needs among female athletes. A Mann–Whitney U test revealed higher perceived knowledge among team sport athletes regarding individual differences, social cohesion, social comparison, acceptance within the group, and recovery, compared to individual sport athletes. Additionally, team sport athletes reported higher knowledge needs regarding social comparisons, sports nutrition and recovery, while individual sport athletes reported higher knowledge needs regarding changes in sex hormones, individual differences, and changes in body composition. A network analysis identified clusters of biological, psychosocial, and behavioral topics in perceived knowledge and knowledge needs, indicating that knowledge is concentrated within domains.Discussion: The findings highlight gaps in knowledge among female athletes regarding BPS puberty-related topics across various sporting contexts. The results also underscore the urgent need for holistic and interdisciplinary educational programs addressing these knowledge gaps in the sporting context of female athletes.

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Haugen, Tommy (2024). Playing position, height, weight, and preferred throwing arm do not differentiate between more and less effective 7- metre throwers at the highest level of international handball. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. ISSN 2474-8668. doi: 10.1080/24748668.2024.2399402. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The aim of this study was to evaluate what characterised the best 7 m throwers in elite handball. The 7 m throwing records of 95 males and 104 females who collectively took 12,033 7 m throws at the 43 major championships (European Championship, World Championship, and Olympics) from 2007–2024 were studied. This was done to assess whether some characteristics set the best throwers apart from those who were less successful. A multinomial logistic regression found no significant differences between the 7 m throwers on a range of characteristics. These findings indicate that the variability within each characteristic is as great as the variability between characteristics. What makes the different 7 m throwers efficient from the 7 m line does therefore appear less important than the fact that something makes them efficient from the 7 m line.

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2024). Hvar eru gögnin? Yfirlit yfir rannsóknir á skólaíþróttum á íslandi á árunum 2013–2023. Tímarit um uppeldi og menntun. ISSN 2298-8394. doi: 10.24270/tuuom.2024.33.14. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Augustsson, Sofia Ryman; Ausland, Ådne; Bjärsholm, Daniel & Kjær, Jørgen Bagger [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). FIDES Athlete Development Programme: project background and study protocol of an embedded multiple case study. BMJ Open sport & exercise medicine. 10(1). doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2024-001898. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Most sports science research revolves around male subjects. As a result, most of the knowledge and practices within sports are male-centric. Failing to take the biological, psychological and social (biopsychosocial) particularities of females into account is believed to hinder optimal sports participation, development and performance, with potential negative effects on the health and well-being of females. To close the knowledge gap and alleviate these issues, we aim to develop and evaluate a 12-video educational intervention that addresses female-specific subject matter: the FIDES Athlete Development Programme. The study is designed as an embedded multiple case study where at least 1320 Swedish female athletes aged 13–16 will participate, in addition to their parents and their coaches. The girls will be recruited through their sports clubs, with half being exposed to the FIDES Athlete Development Programme and the other half serving as control cases. The primary outcomes are well-being and sporting experience. To further increase our understanding of the intervention and its implications, interviews and focus group interviews with a reference group of girls and focus group interviews with a randomly selected subsample of coaches and parents will also be performed. The project is approved by the Swedish ethics committee (number: 2023-05264-01) and will be carried out in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Results from the project will be published open access in peer-reviewed journals, at national and international conferences, in mass media, and a PhD thesis. The anonymised data will be made openly available in a data repository.

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Haugen, Tommy; Angeltveit, Ørjan; Sørensen, Christian & Ivarsson, Andreas (2024). Is Left-Handedness Associated With Greater Success From the 7-Meter Line? An Analysis of 7-Meter Records Across Various Handball Competitions. Perceptual and Motor Skills. ISSN 0031-5125. doi: 10.1177/00315125241272503. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  While left-handers have been overrepresented among 7-meter shooters in handball, previous investigators have not found success from the 7-meter line to be related to handedness. Drawing on previous handedness research in sport, we performed two studies to examine possible negative frequency-dependent advantages to left-handedness during 7-meter throws among elite players. In Study I, we analyzed the records of 974 7-meter shooters from Danish and Norwegian elite divisions (485 males and 489 females) and found that left-handed males were overrepresented compared to the prevalence of left-handers in these two leagues, but left-handed females were not. An analysis of covariance showed no statistically significant associations between throwing arm or sex, and success from the 7-meter line. In Study II, we analyzed the records of 899 7-meter shooters at 41 major championships for both males and females between 2007-2023 (442 males and 457 females). We again found left-handed males to be overrepresented compared to their prevalence at the championships, but left-handed females were not. Also, in alignment with Study I, an analysis of covariance found no associations between throwing arm or sex, and success from 7-meter throws. These findings further underline the complexities associated with lateral biases in sports, where there appear to be benefits for left-handed males in the selection process that are not evident during performance execution.

• Pusey, Christopher Garry; Haugen, Tommy; Høigaard, Rune; Ivarsson, Andreas; Røshol, Andreas Waaler & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Put Some Music on: The Effects of pre-Task Music Tempo on Arousal, Affective State, Perceived Exertion, and Anaerobic Performance. Music & Science. 6, p. 1–9. doi: 10.1177/20592043231174388. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Research on the ergogenic effects of music on athletic performance usually includes multiple antecedents simultaneously. Consequently, this study set out to isolate a single antecedent using a highly controlled experiment. More specifically, the aim of the study was to investigate the effect of pre-task, slow- and fast-tempo music on arousal, affective state, perceived exertion, and anaerobic rowing performance by isolating music tempo as the sole intrinsic musical factor. Forty young adults (male = 23, female = 17) participated in three trials where they all were exposed to no-music, slow-tempo, and fast-tempo music conditions in a randomized order. The music was exclusively composed for this study and equally novel for all participants. It was based on the same electronic track with a techno-orientation rendered to both 110 (slow-tempo) and 140 (fast-tempo) BPM. Following music exposure, the participants were momentarily asked to report levels of felt arousal and affective state before being instructed to perform a 30-s maximal rowing test on an ergometer. Upon completion of each rowing test, subjects were then asked to report their perceived exertion. Both fast- and slow-tempo pre-task music exposure led to increased arousal and positive affective state when compared to no music. Fast-tempo music led to a significantly higher mean power output than slow-tempo music. No significant differences were found for peak watt output or rating of perceived exertion when comparing all conditions. These findings suggest that exposure to pre-task music may offer positive psychological benefits prior to commencing anaerobic sporting tasks. Results also suggest that fast-tempo music may have an ergogenic effect on anaerobic performance.

• Þorgeirsson, Sveinn; Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Sigurgeirsson, Ólafur; Sekulic, Damir & Garcia, Jose Miguel Saavedra (2023). Performance Profiling in Handball Using Discriminative Variables and its Practical Applications. Sport Mont. ISSN 1451-7485. 21(3), p. 3–8. doi: 10.26773/smj.231001. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Performance profiles of teams performance highlight areas of weaknesses and strengths for coaches to inform their decision-making on how to spend their limited training time with athletes. This study used a stepwise discriminative analysis approach comparing one successful team’s (TEAM) performances through five consecutive seasons against a) other top four teams (TOP4) and b) teams with a final rank between 5th and eight (LOW) in a semi-professional league. The predictive model created was used to set forth a performance profile for the selected team. A total of 95 matches of the TEAM’s matches from the last five seasons are in the analysis. The objective was to create a performance profile with relevant performance indicators selected based on the discriminant analysis results of the selected TEAM and discuss its practical applicability. For matches against other TOP4 teams, the predictive model created consisted of three variables; legal stops, blocked shots and 9 m shots, classifying 72.6% correctly. The LOW ranked teams model had six variables and correctly classified 94.4% of cases (assists, blocked shots, legal stops, the goalkeeper saved shots, 2-minute exclusion, and shot efficiency). The selected variables are presented in Table 4, with medians and a 95% confidence interval of the median as a team performance profile. The profile provides the coaches with two models containing values that can serve as a reference for this team’s performance. The profile of this TEAM’s performances during the last five seasons generally aligns with the variables associated with success in other studies in female handball.

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). The sex gap in sports and exercise medicine research: who does research on females? Scientometrics. ISSN 0138-9130. 128(3), p. 1987–1994. doi: 10.1007/s11192-023-04641-5. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Females are underrepresented in sports and exercise medicine research, both as authors and as research participants. The aim of this study was therefore to explore who does sports and exercise medicine research on females. All original research articles with female-only samples published in six major sports and exercise medicine journals over a 7-year period (2014–2020; n=334) were examined. Out of the 2027 authors of the articles in question, 1149 were categorized as male (56.7%) and 850 were categorized as female (41.9%; 28 [1.4%] could not be categorized). A slight majority of the articles had a female as frst author (51.5%), while the majority of the last authors were male (62.3%). Binomial tests of proportions revealed that females were overrepresented in all author roles in this sample compared to the feld at large, while chi-square tests of proportions indicated minimal variations in female authorship across the studied period. These fndings indicate that females are relatively more likely to do research on females than m

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Haugen, Tommy (2023). Where are the carrots? A proposal to start crediting the peer reviewers for their contribution to science. Learned Publishing. ISSN 0953-1513. doi: 10.1002/leap.1589. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Þorgeirsson, Sveinn; Garcia, Jose Miguel Saavedra; Sigurgeirsson, Ólafur & Ivarsson, Andreas (2023). Are they all born to score? The relationship between throwing arm and scoring from the 7-meter line in semi-professional handball. Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition. ISSN 1357-650X. 28(4-6), p. 274–284. doi: 10.1080/1357650X.2023.2234636. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Indications of laterall biases favouring left-handers have been found in various sports; especially interactive sports where the athletes have limited time to react to incoming objects. The aim of this study was therefore to explore whether any lateral biases exist in handball by examining 7-meter shots. A total of 6846 7-meter throws from 240 7-meter shooters across four seasons in the semi-professional Icelandic elite handball division (male and female) were analyzed. Out of the 240 7-meter shooters, of which 151 were male and 89 were female, 22% were left-handed (22% of the males and 20% of the females). The left-handed 7-meter shooters took a disproportionate number of the 7-meter shots, with left-handed shooters performing 29% of the 7-meter shots (27% in the male league and 33% in the female league). The results of a Bayesian two-level analysis indicated that left-handedness is not associated with greater success from the 7-meter line at the semi-professional level.

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• Østrem, Ketil & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2024). Bevegelsesaktiviteter i kroppsøving - en fagdidaktisk grunnbok. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISBN 9788202802332. 233 p. Full text in Research Archive

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• Radovan, Felicia; Solstad, Bård Erlend; Kjær, Jørgen; Melin, Anna; Ausland, Ådne & Bjærsholm, Daniel [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2025). Female athletes' knowledge of biopsychosocial puberty-related topics in sports during adolescence: What is missing? Full text in Research Archive
• Ausland, Ådne; Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Ivarsson, Andreas; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Solstad, Bård Erlend & Melin, Anne [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2025). Coaching Female Athletes: Where Do Coaches Turn for Knowledge? Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  As awareness of female athletes' unique challenges grows, understanding how coaches engage with learning opportunities to support them is important. This study explores how coaches prefer to learn, and through which formats they acquire knowledge of coaching female athletes. A web-based survey of 779 coaches (306 females, mean age = 44, SD = 11.5) in Norway and Sweden. Data were analysed using Decision Tree Analyses in SPSS. Findings indicate a strong preference for mixed learning methods (69.3%), particularly among female coaches (75.2%). Digital learning was preferred by 61.6%, with individual sport coaches showing the highest preference (87.5%). Education preferences varied; males (21.4%) and less experienced coaches (24.9%) favoured passive methods, while younger (14.9%) and female coaches (11.8%) leaned towards active (13.1%) or mixed (73.8%). Digital learning was dominant among individual sport coaches (87.5%), whereas mixed approaches were more common in team sports (76.8%). Regarding educators, most coaches (85.2%) preferred a mix of sport scientists and practitioners, though female coaches in team sports favoured practitioners (36.8%) over sport scientists (30.8%). Sources of knowledge specific to coaching female athletes were primarily based on experience, with 86.1% relying on personal or peer experience. Notably, 9.8% of coaches reported no use of knowledge sources related to female athletes. Our study highlights the need for flexible, multimodal coach education that integrates scientific and practical knowledge while considering differences in experience, sport, and learning preferences. Expanding access to structured learning, including digital resources, can help bridge the knowledge gap and enhance coaching practices for female athletes.

• Ausland, Ådne; Kjær, Jørgen B; Ivarsson, Andreas; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Solstad, Bård Erlend & Melin, Anna [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2025). Off the Beaten Track: How Coaches and Athletes Navigate Female-Specific Topics. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introduction Communication between coaches and female athletes is essential when addressing six key topics: puberty, menstruation, injuries, body composition, coach-athlete relationships, and within-group communication. However, some coaches may experience challenges in communicating these topics due to limited knowledge or confidence. Effective communication on these issues can strengthen coach-athlete relationships, foster trust, and contribute to athlete well-being. This study examines (1) how female athletes and coaches perceive the importance of feeling safe communicating on these topics, (2) how coaches evaluate their own comfort and ability to address these topics, and (3) how coaches perceive their athletes’ comfort in communicating personal thoughts. Methods Two digital surveys were conducted: one with 779 coaches of female athletes (306 female coaches, mean age = 44 years, SD = 11.5 years) and one with 1,323 female athletes aged 16 to 24 years (mean age = 19 years, SD = 2 years) in Norway and Sweden. Coaches rated the importance of feeling safe communicating about these six topics (rated from 1 = unimportant to 7 = very important). Athletes answered three questions: (1) how important they think these conversations are, (2) how comfortable they feel engaging in the conversations, and (3) how comfortable they believe their athletes feel when communicating with them on the six topics. Latent profile analyses were conducted using Mplus. Results Athletes rated communication on all six topics as highly important (M = 5.87-6.27, SD = .82-1.23). Coaches recognized this (M = 5.86-6.21, SD = 0.86-1.13) but reported lower comfort levels in communicating these topics (M = 4.76-5.96, SD = 1.10-1.75). Individual sport coaches felt generally more comfortable than team sport coaches. The largest gaps were found in menstruation and body composition, where coaches felt significantly less comfortable. Coaches also rated their athletes’ comfort in sharing as lower than their own, with female coaches perceiving their athletes as less comfortable than male coaches. Discussion Findings reveal a gap between the perceived importance of communication and coaches’ comfort in addressing these topics. While athletes highly value these conversations, coaches—especially in team sports—often feel unprepared. Coaches also perceive their athletes as less comfortable sharing than they are in engaging, suggesting a misalignment in communication expectations. This highlights the need for fostering environments where athletes feel safer expressing personal concerns and where coaches are better prepared to respond effectively.

• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Haugen, Tommy (2025). Den farlige jakten på neste seier. Fedrelandsvennen. doi: https:/www.fvn.no/sport/i/XMwgmW/den-farlige-jakten-paa-neste-seier. Full text in Research Archive
• Haugen, Tommy; Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2025). Hjelp, jeg er idrettsforelder. Fedrelandsvennen. doi: https:/www.fvn.no/sport/i/kwqrRv/hjelp-jeg-er-idrettsforelder. Full text in Research Archive
• Linner, Susanne; Augustsson, Sofia; Radovan, Felicia; Ausland, Ådne; Bjærsholm, Daniel & Kjær, Jørgen B [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2025). Development of the FIDES ADP "Girls are Not Small Boys" digital educational intervention. Full text in Research Archive
• Aartun, Iselin; Aasland, Erik; Nyberg, Gunn; Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Østrem, Ketil & Johansen, Bjørn Tore (2025). Hva oppfatter kroppsøvingslærerstudenter at de skal kunne? Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2025). Musikk til trening. [Radio]. NRK P1. doi: https:/radio.nrk.no/serie/soendagsaapent/sesong/202601/DMMU05000226. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2025). Mognud Lunde ætladi alltaf ad vera best. [TV]. RÚV. doi: https:/www.ruv.is/sjonvarp/spila/ithrottir/30657/b1cj31/mognud-lunde-aetladi-alltaf-ad-verda-best. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2025). Har forsket på Katrine Lunde. Dette fant de. [Journal]. Ferdrelandsvennen. doi: https:/www.fvn.no/sport/i/Pd32P7/har-forsket-paa-katrine-lunde-dette-fant-de. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2025). Af hverju eru Norðmenn svona góðir í íþróttum? [Internet]. ruv.is. doi: https:/www.ruv.is/frettir/ithrottir/2025-12-22-af-hverju-eru-nordmenn-svona-godir-i-ithrottum-462113. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2025). Hvordan gode spørsmål kan øke læring i idretten. Fedrelandsvennen. doi: https:/www.fvn.no/sport/i/QMGX1J/hvordan-gode-spoersmaal-kan-oeke-laering-i-idretten. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2025). Er du instruktør eller tilrettelegger? Fedrelandsvennen. doi: https:/www.fvn.no/sport/i/3MvenX/er-du-instruktoer-eller-tilrettelegger. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2025). Får drahjelp av rockestjerner: – Blitt eit ubevisst ritual. [Internet]. nrk.no. doi: https:/www.nrk.no/sport/for-vektloftar-solfrid-koanda-er-musikk-blitt-eit-ritual-1.17535423. Full text in Research Archive
• Haugen, Tommy & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2025). «Tame må til for å vere i fysisk aktivitet». Fedrelandsvennen. doi: https:/www.fvn.no/sport/i/LMxjW4/tame-maa-til-for-aa-vere-i-fysisk-aktivitet. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2025). Den ubehagelige bilturen hjem. Fedrelandsvennen. doi: https:/www.fvn.no/sport/i/Ey7KQ2/den-ubehagelige-bilturen-hjem. Full text in Research Archive
• Kjær, Ingirid Geirsdatter Heald & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2024). Idrett på barnas premisser. Full text in Research Archive
• Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Ausland, Ådne; Augustsson, Sofia Ryman; Ivarsson, Andreas; Kjær, Jørgen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). Perceived Importance and Self-Evaluations of Female-Specific Knowledge: Current Insights into Coaching of Female Athletes. Full text in Research Archive
• Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Ausland, Ådne; Augustsson, Sofia Ryman; Ivarsson, Andreas; Kjær, Ingirid Geirsdatter Heald & Laxdal, Aron Gauti [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). Perceived Importance and Self-Evaluations of Female-Specific Knowledge: Current Insights into Coaching of Female Athletes. Full text in Research Archive
• Ausland, Ådne; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Augustsson, Sofia Ryman; Ivarsson, Andreas; Kjær, Jørgen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). Perceived Importance and Self-Evaluations of Female-Specific Knowledge: Current Insights into Coaching of Female Athletes. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Luc, Martin; Rune, Høigaard; Anja, Kielland & Tommy, Haugen (2024). ‘Groups within the group’: Student experiences of subgroups in physical education classes. Full text in Research Archive
• Aasland, Erik; Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Johansen, Bjørn Tore; Østrem, Ketil & Nyberg, Gunn (2024). Hva fremstår som viktig kunnskap i kroppsøvingslærerutdanningen? Full text in Research Archive
• Aasland, Erik; Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Johansen, Bjørn Tore; Østrem, Ketil & Nyberg, Gunn (2024). Teaching and assessment in Norwegian PETE: What appears to be important knowledge? Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2024). Kven er dei beste til å ta straffe i handball? [Internet]. forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2024). Noregur, hvað hefuru gert? Gunnar Birgisson og Aron Gauti Laxdal. [Internet]. Langa Podcast. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Response to a letter to the editor by Williams, Stone, Ritz, and MacDonald. Scientometrics. ISSN 0138-9130. doi: 10.1007/s11192-023-04744-z. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Þorgeirsson, Sveinn (2023). Til umhugsunar um framtíð skólaíþrótta. Skólaþræðir. ISSN 2547-6467. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Haugen, Tommy (2023). Slutt å si «bra jobbet». Romsdals Budstikke.. ISSN 0806-5160. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Haugen, Tommy (2023). Slutt å si «bra jobbet». iTromsø. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Haugen, Tommy (2023). Slutt å si «bra jobbet». lokalavisen fedrelandsvennen. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Haugen, Tommy (2023). Slutt å si «bra jobbet». Folkebladet.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Haugen, Tommy (2023). Slutt å si «bra jobbet». Sunnmørsposten. ISSN 1503-9056. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Haugen, Tommy (2023). Slutt å si «bra jobbet». Stavanger Aftenblad. ISSN 0804-8991. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvorfor er det så mye uenighet om kroppsøvingsfaget? Folkebladet.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Kjær, Ingirid Geirsdatter Heald & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvor ble det av leken? Sunnmørsposten. ISSN 1503-9056. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvorfor er det så mye uenighet om kroppsøvingsfaget? iTromsø. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvorfor er det så mye uenighet om kroppsøvingsfaget? Romsdals Budstikke.. ISSN 0806-5160. Full text in Research Archive
• Kjær, Ingirid Geirsdatter Heald & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvor ble det av leken? lokalavisen fedrelandsvennen. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvorfor er det så mye uenighet om kroppsøvingsfaget? Stavanger Aftenblad. ISSN 0804-8991. Full text in Research Archive
• Kjær, Ingirid Geirsdatter Heald & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvor ble det av leken? Stavanger Aftenblad. ISSN 0804-8991. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvorfor er det så mye uenighet om kroppsøvingsfaget? Sunnmørsposten. ISSN 1503-9056. Full text in Research Archive
• Kjær, Ingirid Geirsdatter Heald & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvor ble det av leken? iTromsø. Full text in Research Archive
• Kjær, Ingirid Geirsdatter Heald & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvor ble det av leken? Romsdals Budstikke.. ISSN 0806-5160. Full text in Research Archive
• Andersen, Eivin Kragholm; Haugen, Tommy & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Når kroppsøving egentlig er ballspill. iTromsø. Full text in Research Archive
• Andersen, Eivin Kragholm; Haugen, Tommy & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Når kroppsøving egentlig er ballspill. Sunnmørsposten. ISSN 1503-9056. Full text in Research Archive
• Andersen, Eivin Kragholm; Haugen, Tommy & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Når kroppsøving egentlig er ballspill. Romsdals Budstikke.. ISSN 0806-5160. Full text in Research Archive
• Andersen, Eivin Kragholm; Haugen, Tommy & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Når kroppsøving egentlig er ballspill. Folkebladet.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Andersen, Eivin Kragholm; Haugen, Tommy & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Når kroppsøving egentlig er ballspill. Fædrelandsvennen. ISSN 0805-3790. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvorfor er det så mye uenighet om kroppsøvingsfaget? lokalavisen fedrelandsvennen. Full text in Research Archive
• Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Slutt å selge lodd for barna deres! Varden. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Musikken som øker effekten – før trening. [Journal]. VG : Verdens gang. Full text in Research Archive
• Haugen, Tommy & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hvordan (bort)forklarer vi dårlige prestasjoner? Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Haugen, Tommy (2023). Slutt å si «bra jobbet». Full text in Research Archive
• Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Slutt å selge lodd for barna dine! Romsdals Budstikke.. ISSN 0806-5160. Full text in Research Archive
• Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Slutt å selge lodd for barna dine! Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). ISSN 0804-3116. Full text in Research Archive
• Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Slutt å selge lodd for barna dine! Sunnmørsposten. ISSN 1503-9056. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Are left handers born to score? Multiple analyses of 7-meter shots in handball. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Erum á villigötum með skólaíþróttir (kroppsøvingsfaget er på avveie). [Radio]. Bylgjan. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Gætum allt eins gefið ein­kunn fyrir fituprósentu. [Journal]. Vísir. Full text in Research Archive
• Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Slutt å selge lodd for barna dine! Grimstad Adressetidende. Full text in Research Archive
• Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Slutt å selge lodd for barna dine! iTromsø. Full text in Research Archive
• Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Slutt å selge lodd for barna dine! Adressavisen. Full text in Research Archive
• Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Slutt å selge lodd for barna dine! Stavanger Aftenblad. ISSN 0804-8991. Full text in Research Archive
• Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Slutt å selge lodd for barna dine! lokalavisen fedrelandsvennen. Full text in Research Archive
• Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen & Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Slutt å selge lodd for barna dine! Folkebladet.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). það á líka að fara fram nán í skólaíþróttum (Elevene skal også lære i kroppsøving). Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hva kjennetegner en god trener? Romsdals Budstikke.. ISSN 0806-5160. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hva kjennetegner en god trener? Folkebladet.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hva kjennetegner en god trener? iTromsø. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hva kjennetegner en god trener? lokalavisen fedrelandsvennen. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hva kjennetegner en god trener? Sunnmørsposten. ISSN 1503-9056. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Hva kjennetegner en god trener? Stavanger Aftenblad. ISSN 0804-8991. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen (2023). Hvordan gjøre en god spiller dårlig. Romsdals Budstikke.. ISSN 0806-5160. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen (2023). Hvordan gjøre en god spiller dårlig. Folkebladet.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti (2023). Å lytte til musikk før konkurranse kan gi fordeler. [Journal]. Forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen (2023). Hvordan gjøre en god spiller dårlig. lokalavisen fedrelandsvennen. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen (2023). Hvordan gjøre en god spiller dårlig. [Journal]. iTromsø. Full text in Research Archive
• Laxdal, Aron Gauti & Erikstad, Martin Kjeøen (2023). Hvordan gjøre en god spiller dårlig. Sunnmørsposten. ISSN 1503-9056. Full text in Research Archive

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