Lars Tore Ronglan

Professor Department of Sport and Social Sciences

Email: larstr@nih.no
Phone: +47 23 26 23 61
Mobile phone: +47 92 46 16 46

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Background and experience

Professor Lars Tore Ronglan served as Rector of the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH) from 2017 to 2025. He is affiliated with the Department of Sport and Social Sciences, and his research focuses on learning and leadership, coaching, and the sociology of sport.

Ronglan holds an intermediate degree (mellomfag) in sociology from the University of Oslo and a Master’s degree in sport science from NIH. In 2000, he completed his PhD at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences with the dissertation “Through the Season: A Sociological Study of the Norwegian Women’s National Handball Team On and Off the Court.”

From 1989 to 2001, Ronglan worked for the Norwegian Handball Federation. Between 1994 and 1996, he was part of Marit Breivik’s coaching staff for the women’s national team. He also served in several key roles, including project manager for collaboration between the federation and the Ministry of Social Affairs, development coordinator responsible for educational activities, and head of the Neptun development programme for handball techniques.

As an elite handball player, Ronglan represented Norway in 99 senior international matches.

Research

Learning and leadership, coaching, handball, and the sociology of sport.

Andersen, Trine Lise; Moldenæs, Turid & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2021). When different logics meet: the crisis communication of a national head coach in elite football. Soccer and Society. ISSN 1466-0970. doi: 10.1080/14660970.2021.1916914. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Through a longitudinal study of how a national head coach in men’s football defended and explained persistent losses, the following questions were addressed: What was the content of the media criticism, how did the coach react and why, and how did the media react to his response? Despite persistent losses, the coach praised his team and never admitted having done something wrong. The media, in turn, criticised the coach for his rhetoric, his lack of humility, and his lack of professional skills. He consistently responded with denials, which reinforced the media criticism. As such, he himself created a space for the ‘media hunt’. Overall, this study illustrates the dynamics that arise when professional sports logic and media logic meet. It indicates that the ‘media hunt’, at least to some extent, can be avoided if coaches know media logic and which crisis responses are the most effective in different situations.
Storm, Louise Kamuk; Ronglan, Lars Tore; Henriksen, Kristoffer & Christensen, Mette Krogh (2021). Organisational cultures of two successful Scandinavian handball talent development environments: a comparative case study. Sports Coaching Review. ISSN 2164-0629. doi: 10.1080/21640629.2021.1990652. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The study explores the organisational cultures of two successful Scandinavian cases in handball to better understand how talent development environments can be different yet successful in developing international elite players within the same sport and sociocultural contexts. A professional club and a volunteer-based club recognised by the national federations for their talent development were selected for the study. Empirical data from four weeks of fieldwork in different settings (e.g., training, school, residence), and semi-structured interviews with different social actors (e.g., players, coaches and managers) were explored and compared through the principles of thematic analysis. Using Schein’s conceptualisation of organisational culture as the theoretical lens for the research, we identified similarities and differences of the talent development structure and culture. Specific for the professional club, coaches selected players who “fitted into their system”, collaborated with the schools to organise the players’ everyday life, the club took responsibility for the players’ wellbeing and established daily routines for the players. In the volunteer-based club, the players took responsibility for their own wellbeing and daily routines and stressed that success is achieved through autonomous decisions, and the coaches’ awareness of player differences was a means for facilitating talent development.
Hordvik, Mats Melvold; MacPhail, Ann & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2020). Developing a pedagogy of teacher education using self-study: A rhizomatic examination of negotiating learning and practice. Teaching and Teacher Education : An International Journal of Research and Studies. ISSN 0742-051X. 88. doi: 10.1016/j.tate.2019.102969. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This self-study of teacher education practices examines the processes of developing a pedagogy of teacher education. Drawing on multiple data sources (video and audio, reflective diary, and focus groups), we used concepts from rhizomatics to explore the question, “How does a teacher educator negotiate his learning and practice as he develops a pedagogy of teacher education?” We explicate the complexity of teacher education learning by showing how a conflux of interactive elements co-produce a teacher educator’s practice. This encourages us to introduce the metaphor of “orchestration” as a way of conceptualizing teacher educator practice and pedagogy.
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. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2019). Sports coaching the Scandinavnian way : the significance of context. In Corsby, Charles L.T. & Edwards, Christian Nicholas (Ed.), Exploring research in sports coaching and pedagogy : context and contingency. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISSN 9781527528284. p. 23–30. Full text in Research Archive
Hordvik, Mats; MacPhail, Ann & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2019). Learning to teach sport education: investigating a pre-service teacher’s knowledge development. Sport, Education and Society. ISSN 1357-3322. 24(1), p. 51–65. doi: 10.1080/13573322.2017.1322948. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The pre-service teacher (PST) learning process has been claimed to include multiple and complex forms of learning because various areas of knowledge growth occur at the same time. In the Sport Education (SE) literature, there has been a noticeable dearth of research regarding how PSTs learn, interpret and deliver the model. While several studies report PSTs having experienced SE prior to the formal study being carried out, to our knowledge, only one study has followed PSTs through a series of learning experiences. In this study, we used the three-level model of learning as a framework to investigate a PST’s continuing process of learning to teach SE as part of a PETE program and while teaching during the school placement component of the PETE program. The study was guided by the question, ‘How does a PST’s knowledge of teaching and learning SE develop?’ This study reports on one physical education PST learning to teach SE. The learning experience was composed of four PETE courses (two content courses and two school placements) divided into five phases. Data collection employed five semi-structured interviews, coursework and a focus group. Data were analyzed using a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive theme development. Results revealed that the PST progressively developed conscious awareness and understanding about teaching and learning SE. The comprehensive learning experience made the PST develop understanding of teaching and learning SE that reflected knowledge on an abstract level. Studying the relationships between SE concepts, while connecting them with knowledge from various PETE courses, the theoretical foundation of SE became accessible. We encourage physical education teacher educators to allow for a continuing growth of understanding where PSTs develop knowledge through various SE learning and teaching experiences tailored around their needs and concerns.
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.
Hordvik, Mats Melvold; MacPhail, Ann & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2019). Negotiating the complexity of teaching: a rhizomatic consideration of pre-service teachers’ school placement experiences. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. ISSN 1740-8989. 24(5), p. 447–462. doi: 10.1080/17408989.2019.1623189. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Background and purpose: Acknowledging that it is critical that researchers design and implement studies that examine teaching as a complex phenomenon (Strom and Martin [2017]. Becoming-teacher: A Rhizomatic Look at First-year Teaching. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers), the objective of this study was to examine pre-service teachers’ (PSTs’) experience of teaching a specific content (i.e. Sport Education) in various school contexts (i.e. diverse PSTs, contexts, students, and the SE model). Using the rhizomatic (Deleuze and Guattari [1987]. A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press) concept of assemblage, this study was guided by the question, ‘How do PSTs negotiate their Sport Education physical education teacher education learning experience during school placement?’ Research setting and participants: Grounded in post-qualitative methodology, this study involved twenty-one PSTs undertaking their school placement as part of a three-year physical education teacher education (PETE) programme in Norway. School placement was composed of two three-week periods in upper secondary school in which the PSTs taught SE to the same class each week. The PSTs participated in a university SE-PETE unit prior to school placement. Data collection and analysis: Three focus group interviews were conducted with three PST groups: (i) end of the SE-PETE unit and prior to school placement; (ii) between school placement blocks; and, (iii) end of school placement. Also, PST coursework was collected on completion of the PETE unit (completed in groups) and on completion of school placement (individual coursework). The nonlinear analysis process included data walking, rhizomatic mapping, situational analysis, and memo writing. Findings and discussion: This study highlighted how particular characteristics of various human and non-human elements (that is, the PSTs themselves, their contexts, their students, the features of SE) influenced and shaped PSTs’ teaching and learning. Recognizing that it is not possible to be true to the myriad of elements influencing each PST, we provide a detailed consideration of two selected PSTs and show how interactions between human and non-human elements created two different teaching practices and learning experiences. We discuss the concept of assemblage in relation to the findings and introduce the notion of ‘translating’. In ‘translating’, as highlighted by the PSTs in this study, PSTs make sense of their PETE learning within a specific setting and a set of circumstances. Conclusion: We contend that non-linear conceptual and methodologic frameworks, such as those featured in this study, can assist the PETE community to push beyond linear and simple ways of studying practice and instead encourage more complex conceptualizations of teaching and learning. Hence, we advocate for an ontological turn (Lather and St. Pierre [2013]. “Post-qualitative Research.” International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education 26 (6): 629–633) in PETE research that focuses on the processes of teaching and learning rather than the outcomes alone.
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 9781527528284. p. 55–64. Full text in Research Archive
Sam, Michael P. & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2018). Building sport policy’s legitimacy in Norway and New Zealand. International Review for the Sociology of Sport. ISSN 1012-6902. 53(5), p. 550–571. doi: 10.1177/1012690216671515. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Governing state-funded sport is tenuous because of the need to maintain legitimacy and support from political authorisers, stakeholders and network partners/members. The purpose of this paper is to compare/contrast how central sport agencies in Norway and New Zealand create, build or sustain legitimacy through their accountability regimes. More particularly, this comparison distinguishes between input and output sources of legitimacy, where the former is associated with democratic processes (e.g., electoral procedures and public consultation), and the latter is linked with results and demonstrable benefits. While the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF) draws legitimacy from its representative membership structures and status as a social movement, Sport New Zealand claims legitimacy on the basis of achieving targets and outputs. In both cases there are emerging pressures to recast input–output legitimating narratives, suggesting their ‘depleteability’ over time. These shifts are discussed in relation to their influence on policy reforms within environments of accountability that are fluid and incomplete.
Hordvik, Mats Melvold; MacPhail, Ann; Tannehill, Deborah & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2018). Decentering the "self" in self-study of professional practices : a working research assemblage. In Strom, Kathryn; Mills, Tammy & Ovens, Alan (Ed.), Decentering the Researcher in Intimate Scholarship : Critical Posthuman Methodological Perspectives in Education. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. ISSN 9781787546363. p. 59–73. doi: 10.1108/s1479-368720180000031006. Full text in Research Archive
Jones, Robyn Lloyd & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2018). What do coaches orchestrate? Unravelling the 'quiddity' of practice. Sport, Education and Society. ISSN 1357-3322. 23(9), p. 905–915. doi: 10.1080/13573322.2017.1282451. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The general purpose of this article is threefold. Firstly, it is to further the notion of coaching as orchestration through developing insight into precisely how and what coaches orchestrate. Secondly, it is to firmly position coaching as a relational practice, whilst thirdly it is to better define coaching’s complex nature and how it can be somewhat ordered. Following an introduction where the purpose and value of the article are outlined, we present the reflective method of critical companionship through which we explored and addressed the aforementioned purposes. The case for the quiddity, or the ‘just whatness’ (i.e. the inherent nature or essence) of coaching as involving complex, relational acts which can be somewhat explained through recourse to the developing theory of orchestration is subsequently made. In doing so, two precise examples of how we as coaches orchestrate sporting practice are presented. The article concludes with both a summary of the principal argument(s) made, and some reflective considerations for future directions.
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.
Solstad, Bård Erlend; Larsen, Torill Marie Bogsnes; Holsen, Ingrid; Ivarsson, Andreas; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Ommundsen, Yngvar (2017). Pre- to post-season differences in empowering and disempowering behaviours among youth football coaches: a sequential mixed-methods study. Sports Coaching Review. ISSN 2164-0629. doi: 10.1080/21640629.2017.1361166. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The aim of this study was to investigate differences in selfreported behaviours among youth football (i.e. European soccer) coaches from pre- to post-season, and additionally, their evaluative reactions to participation in the Norwegian arm of the Empowering Coaching™ Training Programme (ECTP). A total of 193 coaches (174 males; 19 females; M = 41.99; SD = 6.32) completed a questionnaire concerning their use of empowering and disempowering behaviours at the beginning and end of the sport season. Moreover, 12 of these coaches (10 males; 2 females; M = 41.67; SD = 5.68) were interviewed at the end of the sport season using semistructured interviews. Whereas coaches’ empowering and disempowering behaviours did not differ from pre- to postseason, post-season interviews showed that participation in the ECTP led coaches to reflect on their coaching practises, facilitating an increased focus on enabling autonomy and involvement for the athletes and more attention paid to the athletes’ feelings of mastery.
Hordvik, Mats; MacPhail, Ann & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2017). Teaching and Learning Sport Education: A Self-Study Exploring the Experiences of a Teacher Educator and Pre-Service Teachers. Journal of teaching in physical education. ISSN 0273-5024. 36(2), p. 232–243. doi: 10.1123/jtpe.2016-0166. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Purpose: In this study, we articulate and share our knowledge and understanding of teaching and learning Sport Education in physical education teacher education (PETE): (a) How did the PETE faculty member experience teaching about teaching Sport Education? and (b) How did the PSTs experience learning about teaching Sport Education? Method: One PETE faculty member (the first author) and twelve PSTs took part in a university Sport Education unit. Data were collected through the PETE faculty member’s open-ended reflective diary and focus groups with three PST teams. Results: The PETE faculty member and PSTs experienced various challenges such as bridging theory and practice when learning about teaching Sport Education and articulating the “what”, “how” and “why” when teaching about teaching Sport Education. Conclusion: Sport Education is a complex curriculum and instructional model, encouraging further interrogation of the theoretical implications of the model.
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. Full text in Research Archive 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.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2017). Sports teams as complex social entities : tensions and potentials. In Bangsbo, Jens; Krustrup, Peter; Hansen, Peter Riis; Ottesen, Laila; Pfister, Gertrud & Elbe, Anne-Marie (Ed.), Science and football VIII : the proceedings of the Eight World Congress on Science and Football. Routledge. ISSN 9781138947061. p. 188–197. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2016). Å trene ungdom : en sosiokulturell tilnærming. In Seippel, Ørnulf Nicolay; Sisjord, Mari Kristin & Strandbu, Åse (Ed.), Ungdom og idrett. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202449674. p. 135–153. Full text in Research Archive
Tjomsland, Hege Eikeland; Larsen, Torill Marie Bogsnes; Holsen, Ingrid; Ronglan, Lars Tore; Samdal, Oddrun & Wold, Bente (2016). Enjoyment in youth soccer: its portrayals among 12- to 14-year-olds. Soccer and Society. ISSN 1466-0970. 17(6), p. 827–842. doi: 10.1080/14660970.2015.1100894. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This article reports on a qualitative study that explored the experiences of adolescents in Norwegian soccer teams. The sample included players aged 12–14 years who participated in the promoting adolescence physical activity (PAPA) project. The data were generated by twelve focus groups with seven girls’ teams and five boys’ teams and indicated that a central component of the soccer players’ experience was simply enjoyment. Their descriptions of this enjoyment resemble the psychological phenomenon of flow, the experience of feeling fully engaged and of having concentrated energy, focus and positive emotions. The results also suggest six components of their enjoyment of youth soccer: being with friends, collaborating with teammates, choosing to play the sport, having a supportive coach, and learning new skills and demonstrating mastery of them. The findings support previous conclusions in the literature about what constitutes enjoyment for young athletes, but enhances understanding of other aspects of adolescents’ experiences specifically in Norwegian soccer. A particular emphasis on learning and enjoyment for all appears evident in Norwegian youth soccer, regardless of the level of talent or competitiveness of individual players.
Rossing, Hilde; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Scott, Susie (2016). ‘I just want to be me when I am exercising’: Adrianna's construction of a vulnerable exercise identity. Sport, Education and Society. ISSN 1357-3322. 21(3), p. 339–355. doi: 10.1080/13573322.2014.920316. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This study explores the social and dynamic aspects of the concept ‘exercise identity’. Previous research, mainly in psychology, has documented a link between exercise identity and exercise behaviour. However, the process of identity formation is not straightforward but rather something that can change with time, context and interaction with others. Subsequently, the present work is informed by a social constructivist approach that views exercise identity as a social product and the formation of it as a social process. Our case study of ‘Adrianna’ examined through a biographical narrative analysis how such an identity may be constructed through interaction and over the life course. Three themes were identified; Adrianna’s relationship to (1) significant others, (2) her body and (3) sociocultural norms and expectations. Reflecting this fluidity of exercise identities, we suggest the alternative concept ‘vulnerable exercise identity’ to better understand the subtler dynamics of exercise identity formation and development. Adrianna’s case is presented as a ‘recognizable story’, representative of the struggle many people face when trying to become more physically active in contemporary western societies.
Andersen, Svein S & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2015). Historical paths and policy change: institutional entrepreneurship in Nordic elite sport systems. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics. ISSN 1940-6940. 7(2), p. 197–216. doi: 10.1080/19406940.2015.1031811. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Research on international elite sport emphasises the convergence of national systems. Such trends are reflected also in the Nordic countries. However, the national elite sport systems in these countries have developed quite differently over the last 30 years, despite strong historical similarities. This article directs the attention to a topic that has been largely ignored in the research on international elite sport systems – the role of institutional entrepreneurs. It builds on earlier research on Nordic elite sport. In addition, we have conducted comprehensive interviews with central leaders in the national Olympic Committees, national confederations of sport and national elite sport organisations in all four countries – a total of 16 informants. They were selected strategically, based on their roles and experiences. The point of departure for the theoretical coding was a model of institutional entrepreneurship with four key elements: field characteristics, the creation of a divergent vision, the mobilisation of allies and the mobilisation of resources. Our findings are consistent with the theoretical model, but introduce nuances and additions to the model. Entrepreneurial efforts take place within institutional fields that may enhance or limit the scope for successful change. The findings point to the significance of entrepreneurs’ active interpretation of challenges and opportunities. Furthermore, change processes take place in a context partly beyond the control of entrepreneurs, and as windows of opportunities come and go, the timing of initiatives may be decisive. The general argument put forward in this article may serve as a framework for identifying and explaining variations in policy changes and implementation across different countries within a broader trend of policy convergence.
Thing, Lone Friis & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2015). Athletes confessions: The sports biography as an interaction ritual. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 25(2), p. 280–288. doi: 10.1111/sms.12198. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Commercialization of emotions is not a new phenomenon but in Denmark there is a new general trend to tell and sell personal stories in the media. Personal deprivation and crises are also major topics in sports media. This paper focuses on sports biographies as a book genre that is reviving in popularity. The paper approaches the topic through the biographies of one Danish athlete: the former professional cyclist, Jesper Skibby, who writes about his doping disclosure and shares his personal dilemmas as a former elite sportsman. The thematic text analysis orientates around social interactions, emotions, and personality constructions. Inspired by microsociology with a Durkheimian flavor of Goffman and Hochschild, themes including “face work,” “interaction rituals,” and “emotions management” are discussed. The analysis claims that sharing personal information in the media is not only a means of confession and reclaiming status but is also business and management – on an intimate level. Telling the story of the corrosion of a sporting character has become a hot issue, an entertainment, and not least a commercial commitment.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2015). Elite sport in Scandinavian welfare states: legitimacy under pressure? International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics. ISSN 1940-6940. 7(3), p. 345–363. doi: 10.1080/19406940.2014.987309. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Taking part in the global ‘sports arming race’ is demanding to all small nations, in terms of the efforts needed to succeed at the international stage. The Scandinavian countries are wealthy and could afford (in pure economic terms) wide-ranging elite sport investments. The question put to the foreground in this paper is the legitimacy of such efforts. More specifically, the aims are to investigate and discuss (1) the societal legitimacy essential to Scandinavian elite sport’s credibility and support in general, and (2) how organizational legitimacy may be threatened by current developments aimed to strengthen international competitiveness. Based on an outline of the social democratic welfare model and the voluntary sport movements characterizing these societies, the paper emphasizes some rooted values and tensions underpinning sport in Scandinavia. Then, recent developments in the three countries’ elite sport efforts are described and discussed. Over the last decades, Scandinavian elite sports have been professionalized, extended and run in line with general international tendencies. Some of these developments challenge values fundamental to the voluntary sport model. A paradox arises: aspects that at the surface seem counterproductive to modern elite sport development; voluntarism, decentralization and local ownership to sport contribute at a deeper level substantially to elite sports’ legitimacy in this region. The paper is concluded by discussing conditions central to maintain elite sports’ social legitimacy in Scandinavia, particularly in what ways sustainable elite sport development relies on the links to the broad voluntary movement.
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 9781138803275. p. 49–66. Full text in Research Archive
Andersen, Svein S; Houlihan, Barrie & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2015). Managing heterogenity and complexity. In Andersen, Svein S; Houlihan, Barrie & Ronglan, Lars Tore (Ed.), Managing elite sport systems : research and practice. Routledge. ISSN 9781138803275. p. 182–195. Full text in Research Archive
Andersen, Svein S; Houlihan, Barrie & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2015). Systems and the development of elite athletes. In Andersen, Svein S; Houlihan, Barrie & Ronglan, Lars Tore (Ed.), Managing elite sport systems : research and practice. Routledge. ISSN 9781138803275. p. 3–15. Full text in Research Archive
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. Full text in Research Archive 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.
Agergaard, Sine & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2015). Player migration and talent development in elite sports teams : a comparative analysis of inbound and outbound career trajectories in Danish and Norwegian women's handball. Scandinavian Sport Studies Forum. 6, p. 1–26. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The conditions for national sport systems and talent development efforts are changing with the globalisation of sports. In the present study we explored the relationship between domestic talent development and the immigration of players from abroad through a comparative multiple-case study of Danish and Norwegian women’s handball. Quantitative data demonstrated how there has been a remarkable increase in not only the number, but also the performance level of immigrant players arriving into Danish women’s handball, in particular, in the first decade of the 2000s. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 experienced coaches and sport directors who have in-depth knowledge of group dynamics in elite handball. Using Lave and Wenger’s theory of situated learning in communities of practice the analysis demonstrated the ambiguous consequences of considerable immigration on the position and learning situation of domestic talent. Inbound trajectories of domestic talent may be supported by apprenticeship from many skilled role models (e.g. immigrant players), while an outbound trajectory may also appear, specifically if the young domestic players are continually hampered from participation in matches. It seems that it is not the high number of players from abroad, per se, that may block the development of local young talent, but first and foremost the structuring of training and match practices in the clubs and national leagues.
Ronglan, Lars Tore & Aggerholm, Kenneth (2014). ‘Humour helps’: Elite sports coaching as a balancing act. Sports Coaching Review. ISSN 2164-0629. doi: 10.1080/21640629.2014.885776. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
To date, humour's role in sport settings has hardly received scholarly attention. However, reflecting on future research within the sociology of sports coaching (Jones, Ronglan, Potrac, & Cushion, 2011), it was suggested that ‘the multi-functional use of humour, its intent, manifestation, and effect within the often emotionally-charged world of coaching, would appear to hold very interesting possibilities’ (p. 185). This formed the point of departure for the work presented in this paper. The study focuses on how coaches interpret the appearance of humour in the context they operate, and how they apply it as an integrated part of their coaching performances. In-depth interviews with six experienced elite Scandinavian sport coaches formed the empirical basis for the analysis. Based on Erving Goffman's sociology of social interaction, the data were analysed and discussed in relation to three main categories: humour's significance in the elite sport context, humour and group dynamics, and the performance of the coach. The analysis demonstrates that ‘humorous coaching’ can be seen as a balancing act between the inherent tensions of ‘seriousness and fun’, ‘distance and closeness’, and ‘authenticity and performance’.
Ronglan, Lars Tore & Aggerholm, Kenneth (2013). Humour and sports coaching : a laughing matter? In Potrac, Paul; Gilbert, Wade & Denison, Jim (Ed.), Routledge handbook of sports coaching. Routledge. ISSN 9780415782227. p. 222–234. doi: 10.4324/9780203132623.ch18. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Sigmundstad, Einar (2013). Effects of sex, game format, and skill type on ball possession in Norwegian youth soccer. In Nunome, Hiroyuki; Drust, Barry & Dawson, Brian (Ed.), Science and football VII : the proceedings of the seventh World Congress on Science and Football. Routledge. ISSN 9780415689915. p. 305–310. Full text in Research Archive
Duda, Joan L.; Quested, Eleanor; Haug, Ellen; Samdal, Oddrun; Wold, Bente & Balaguer, Isabel [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2013). Promoting Adolescent health through an intervention aimed at improving the quality of their participation in Physical Activity (PAPA): Background to the project and main trial protocol. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. ISSN 1612-197X. 11(4), p. 319–327. doi: 10.1080/1612197X.2013.839413. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Funded by the European Commission, the Promoting Adolescent health through an intervention is aimed at improving the quality of their participation in Physical Activity (PAPA) project revolved around the potential of youth sport to promote children's mental and emotional health and physical activity engagement. A theoretically grounded coach education training programme (i.e. Empowering Coaching™), which was designed to create a sporting environment which was more positive and adaptive for young children, was customised for grassroots soccer, delivered and evaluated via a multi-method cluster RCT across five European countries; namely, England, France, Greece, Norway and Spain. In this article, a key part of the protocol of this large and multi-faceted project is presented. The ethical standards and procedures, characteristics of the population targeted and overall study design, and core self-report questionnaire measures completed by the players are described. Information is provided as well on the translation principles and procedures and data-collection procedures adopted in the PAPA project.
Andersen, Svein S & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2012). Same ambitions – different tracks: a comparative perspective on Nordic elite sport. Managing Leisure. ISSN 1360-6719. 17(2-3), p. 155–169. doi: 10.1080/13606719.2012.674392. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Studies of politics, welfare states and social issues often emphasize the commonalities that constitute a Nordic model. Similarly, research on international elite sport emphasize the convergence of elite sport systems. In the domain of Nordic elite sport commonalities exist, but the differences are more striking. Not only are there differences among the national elite sport systems, they also often run counter to dominant patterns of political and societal organizations within each country. This article explores how such differences have come about since the Second World War, and how they influence the way today's challenges are dealt within the different Nordic countries.
Aggerholm, Kenneth; Jespersen, Ejgil & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2012). Falling for the feint - an existential investigation of a creative performance in higj-level football. In Martínková, Irena & Parry, Jim (Ed.), Phenomenological approaches to sport. Routledge. ISSN 9780415697101. p. 159–174. doi: 10.1080/17511321.2011.602589. Full text in Research Archive
Aggerholm, Kenneth & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2012). Having the last laugh : the value of humour in ivasion games. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy. ISSN 1751-1321. 6(3), p. 336–352. doi: 10.1080/17511321.2012.689321. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This paper provides an existential analysis of humour as a social virtue in invasion games at the elite sport level. The main argument is that humour in this particular context can be valuable both in the competitive social training environment and in game performance. This is investigated through philosophical and psychological conceptualisations of humour that are used to reveal and analyse the appearance and possible value of a humorous approach in various social situations experienced during invasion games and the associated training situations. It is concluded that humour can help balance and structure the social training environment as well as facilitate creative game performance. On this basis it is suggested that the existential perspectives on humour presented could make a fruitful contribution to talent development in the domain of invasion games.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2012). Norwegian women’s handball – organizing for sustainable success. In Andersen, Svein S & Ronglan, Lars Tore (Ed.), Nordic elite sport : same ambitions - different tracks. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215019390. p. 131–151. Full text in Research Archive
Andersen, Svein S & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2012). A comparative perspective on Nordic elite sport : filling a gap. In Andersen, Svein S & Ronglan, Lars Tore (Ed.), Nordic elite sport : same ambitions - different tracks. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215019390. p. 259–284. doi: 10.1080/13606719.2012.674392. Full text in Research Archive
Andersen, Svein S & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2012). Elite sports in Nordic countries : perspectives and challenges. In Andersen, Svein S & Ronglan, Lars Tore (Ed.), Nordic elite sport : same ambitions - different tracks. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215019390. p. 11–24. Full text in Research Archive
Jones, Robyn Lloyd; Potrac, Paul; Cushion, Chris; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Davey, Chris (2011). Erving Goffman : Interaction and impression management : playing the coaching role. In Jones, Robyn Lloyd; Potrac, Paul; Cushion, Chris & Ronglan, Lars Tore (Ed.), The Sociology of sports coaching / edited by Robyn L. Jones, paul Potrac, Chris Cushion and Lars Tore Ronglan. Routledge. ISSN 9780415560849. p. 15–26. Full text in Research Archive
Jones, Robyn Lloyd; Ronglan, Lars Tore; Potrac, Paul & Cushion, Chris (2011). Concluding thoughts and ways forward. In Jones, Robyn Lloyd; Potrac, Paul; Cushion, Chris & Ronglan, Lars Tore (Ed.), The Sociology of sports coaching / edited by Robyn L. Jones, paul Potrac, Chris Cushion and Lars Tore Ronglan. Routledge. ISSN 9780415560849. p. 179–186. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2011). Social interaction in coaching. In Jones, Robyn Lloyd; Potrac, Paul; Cushion, Chris & Ronglan, Lars Tore (Ed.), The Sociology of sports coaching / edited by Robyn L. Jones, paul Potrac, Chris Cushion and Lars Tore Ronglan. Routledge. ISSN 9780415560849. p. 151–165. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore & Havang, Øystein (2011). Niklas Luhmann : coaching as communication. In Jones, Robyn Lloyd; Potrac, Paul; Cushion, Chris & Ronglan, Lars Tore (Ed.), The Sociology of sports coaching / edited by Robyn L. Jones, paul Potrac, Chris Cushion and Lars Tore Ronglan. Routledge. ISSN 9780415560849. p. 79–93. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2011). Hvad er idrætssociologi, og hvilke rødder har den? In Thing, Lone Friis & Wagner, Ulrik (Ed.), Grundbog i idrætssociologi. Munksgaard Forlag. ISSN 9788762809796. p. 20–34. Full text in Research Archive
Aggerholm, Kenneth; Jespersen, Ejgil & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2011). Falling For The Feint – An Existential Investigation Of A Creative Performance In High-Level Football. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy. ISSN 1751-1321. 5(3), p. 343–538. doi: 10.1080/17511321.2011.602589. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This paper begins with the decisive moment of the 2010 Champions League final, as Diego Milito dribbles past van Buyten to settle the score. By taking a closer look at this situation we witness a complex and ambiguous movement phenomenon that seems to transcend established phenomenological accounts of performance, as a creative performance such as this cannot be reduced to bodily self-awareness or absorbed skilful coping. Instead, the phenomenon of the feint points to a central question we need to ask when investigating performance in football: ‘How can one intentionally transcend the expectations of others?’ In order to clarify this, the paper will conduct a contextual analysis of a feint drawing on existential philosophy and phenomenology. The main argument is that the feint incarnates a fundamental and indispensable strategy in the game context of football and the analysis of it throws light on central existential phenomena involved in game creativity, with appearance, seduction, commitment and value being the focal ones. The analysis suggests a broader notion of expertise by pointing to the need of stressing the dynamic and social game context. What the feint explicates is that in football it is not enough to be aware of your own body or rely on your embodied habits. In order to cope in the game situation it is also necessary to be absorbed in the other and transcend his or her expectations.
Aggerholm, Kenneth; Jespersen, Ejgil & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2011). Ko pades na finto: Eksistencialna preiskava ustvarjalnega nastopa v vrhunskem nogometu. Borec. ISSN 0006-7725. LX111(676-680), p. 330–353. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2010). Grasping complexity in social interaction : communication systems in an elite sport team. In Wagner, U (Eds.), Observing sport : modern system theoretical approaches. Hofmann. ISSN 9783778033968. p. 197–216. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2010). Measuring the effectiveness of offensive match-play in professional soccer. European Journal of Sport Science (EJSS). ISSN 1746-1391. 10(4), p. 269–277. doi: 10.1080/17461390903515170. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The broader measures of offensive effectiveness, such as scoring opportunities and shots at goal, are commonly used as an alternative to goals scored due to the naturally low probability of scoring (about 1%) in soccer match-play. These measures may enable soccer practitioners to objectively see behind single match results, which are often influenced by chance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between broader measures (scoring opportunities and score box possessions) and the ultimate measure (goals scored) of offensive effectiveness. We analysed data from videotapes of 163 of 182 (90%) matches played in the Norwegian men's professional league during the 2004 season. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed very similar results when comparing the effectiveness of different offensive tactics, regardless of which outcome was used. For example, counterattacks were more effective than elaborate attacks in producing goals (odds ratio OR=2.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.40 to 3.05), scoring opportunities (OR=2.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.28 to 4.15), and score box possessions (OR=2.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.39 to 3.25). The receiver-operating characteristic function statistical procedure was used to examine the association between each of the three measures of offensive effectiveness: scoring opportunities, score box possessions, and goals scored. No significant difference was observed between the area under the curve (AUC) for the broader measures (scoring opportunities and score box possessions) and the ultimate measure (goals scored) of offensive effectiveness. The 95% confidence interval of the AUC for both scoring opportunities (0.74-0.84) and score box possessions (0.68-0.76) includes the AUC for goals scored (0.74). Thus, the results are very similar regardless of which outcome measure for offensive effectiveness is used. This indicates that scoring opportunities and score box possessions (shooting opportunities) can be used as a proxy for goals scored when comparing the effectiveness of different playing tactics in soccer. Compared with goals scored, using scoring opportunities or score box possessions requires smaller match samples for meaningful analyses, and may therefore be more feasible alternatives.
Tenga, Albin; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2010). Effects of match location on playing tactics for goal scoring in Norwegian professional soccer. Journal of Sport Behavior. ISSN 0162-7341. 33(1), p. 89–108. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the effect of match location on soccer playing tactics by assessing opponent interaction. The sample included 203 goals and 1688 random team possessions ("controls"). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed significant differences in the odds ratio for goal scoring in the interaction between playing tactics and match locations. For the variable "team possession type" (?²=5. 05, P=0.025), counter attack (24.5%) and elaborate attack (21.8%) produced goals in higher percentages of attempts at home than away (19.8% and 20.5%,), with counter attack being more effective than elaborate attack when playing against an imbalanced defence at home, but not away. Assessment of opponent interaction is critical to evaluate the effectiveness of playing tactics on the probability for scoring goals according to match location
Tenga, Albin; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2010). Effect of playing tactics on achieving score-box possessions in a random series of team possessions from Norwegian professional soccer matches. Journal of Sports Sciences. ISSN 0264-0414. 28(3), p. 245–255. doi: 10.1080/02640410903502766. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Methods of analysis that include an assessment of opponent interactions are thought to provide a more valid means of team match performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of playing tactics on achieving score-box possession by assessing opponent interactions in Norwegian elite soccer matches. We analysed a random series of 1703 team possessions from 163 of 182 (90%) matches played in the professional men's league during the 2004 season. Multidimensional qualitative data obtained from ten ordered categorical variables were used. Offensive tactics were more effective in producing score-box possessions when playing against an imbalanced defence (28.5%) than against a balanced defence (6.5%) (P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression found that, for the main variable "team possession type'', counterattacks were more effective than elaborate attacks when playing against an imbalanced defence (odds ratio: 2.69
Tenga, Albin; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2010). Effect of playing tactics on goal scoring in Norwegian professional soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences. ISSN 0264-0414. 28(3), p. 237–244. doi: 10.1080/02640410903502774. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Methods that include an assessment of opponent interactions are thought to provide a more valid analysis of team match performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of playing tactics on goal scoring by assessing opponent interactions in Norwegian elite soccer. The sample included 203 team possessions leading to goals (cases) and 1688 random team possessions (control group) from 163 of 182 (90%) matches played in the men's professional league during the 2004 season. Multidimensional qualitative data using ten ordered categorical variables were obtained to characterize each team possession. The proportion of goals scored during counterattacks (52%) was higher than during elaborate attacks (48%), while for the control group the proportion using elaborate attacks (59%) was higher than when using counterattacks (41%) (P = 0.002). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that, for the main variable ?team possession type?, counterattacks were more effective than elaborate attacks when playing against an imbalanced defence (OR = 1.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.03 to 2.61; P = 0.038). Assessment of opponent interactions is critical to evaluate the effectiveness of offensive playing tactics on the probability of scoring goals, and improves the validity of team match-performance analysis in soccer.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2009). Vi mot dem : om meningen med fotball. In Steen-Johnsen, Kari & Neumann, Iver B. (Ed.), Meningen med idretten. Unipub forlag. p. 47–67. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2009). Situert læring : om laget som praksisfellesskap. In Ronglan, Lars Tore; Halling, Anders & Teng, Gunnar (Ed.), Ballspill over grenser : skandinaviske tilnærminger til læring og utvikling. Akilles forlag. ISSN 9788272862212. p. 35–47. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore & Ertesvåg, Vidar (2009). Teamball i praksis : en intervensjonsstudie. In Ronglan, Lars Tore; Halling, Anders & Teng, Gunnar (Ed.), Ballspill over grenser : skandinaviske tilnærminger til læring og utvikling. Akilles forlag. ISSN 9788272862212. p. 95–114. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin; Bahr, Roald; Kanstad, Daniel & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2009). Developing a new method for team match performance analysis in professional soccer and testing its reliability. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. ISSN 2474-8668. 9(1), p. 8–25. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The purpose of this study was to develop a new method for analysis of team match performance in soccer and test its reliability from videotapes. Team match performance analysis, which includes qualitative evaluation of different dimensions of match performance involved in the opponent interaction, was developed by using 22 multidimensional categorical variables. This is thought to provide a more valid assessment of team match performance, since it is considered to be a product of the confrontation between two teams. To test inter- and intra-observer reliability, a random sample of 200 team possessions from videos of 163 out of 182 (90%) matches played in the Norwegian professional league in 2004 was analysed. Kappa coefficients (_k) values of 0.81-1.0 were conidered very good, 0.61-0.80 good, 0.41-0.60 moderate, 0.21-0.40 fair, and <0.21 poor. Kappa values were considerably better for the intra-observer test (16 (73%) very good, (23%) good and 1 (4%) moderate) than the inter-observer test (7 (32%) very good, 5 (23%) good, 7 (32%) moderate, 2 (9%) fair and 1 (4%) poor of 22 variables). A new method, representing a potentially valuable tool for more valid assessment of team match performance, has been developed as a reliable method for most variables used.
Abrahamsen, Frank Eirik; Roberts, Glyn C.; Pensgaard, Anne Marte & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2008). Perceived ability and social support as mediators of achievement motivation and performance anxiety. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 18(6), p. 810–821. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2007.00707.x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The present study is founded on achievement goal theory (AGT) and examines the relationship between motivation, social support and performance anxiety with team handball players (n=143) from 10 elite teams. Based on these theories and previous findings, the study has three purposes. First, it was predicted that the female athletes (n=69) would report more performance worries and more social support use than males (n=74). The findings support the hypothesis for anxiety, but not for social support use. However, females report that they felt social support was more available than males. Second, we predicted and found a positive relationship between the interaction of ego orientation and perceptions of a performance climate on performance anxiety, but only for females. As predicted, perceived ability mediated this relationship. Finally, we predicted that perceptions of a performance climate were related to the view that social support was less available especially for the male athletes. Simple correlation supports this prediction, but the regression analyses did not reach significance. Thus, we could not test for mediation of social support between motivational variables and anxiety. The results illustrate that fostering a mastery climate helps elite athletes tackle competitive pressure.
Ronglan, Lars Tore & Storm, Rasmus K. (2008). Håndboldens medieeksponering: Hvad med spillerne selv? Om håndtering af mediepres og mediefortællinger på det norske kvindelandshold. In Storm, Rasmus K. (Eds.), Dansk Håndbold - Elite, Bredde og kommercialiseringens konsekvenser. Forlaget Bavnebanke. p. 282–304. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Artiklen tager udgangspunkt i to aspekter: Dels spørgsmålet om, hvordan spillerne selv medvirker til at skabe konstruktionen af dem selv og landsholdet, dels spørgsmålet om, hvordan de håndterer en mediekonstruktion, som de aldrig til fulde har kontrol over. Med anvendelse av Niklas Luhmanns systemteori behandles disse spørgsmål gennem indkredsning af en række kommunikasjonssystemer, der præger konteksten. Gennem deltakerobservation og dybdeinterview analyseres især ambivalensen mellem kommunikationssystemerne 'prestation' og 'mediehåndtering'.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2007). Building and communicating collective efficacy: A season-long in-depth study of an elite sport team. The Sport Psychologist. ISSN 0888-4781. 21(1), p. 78–93. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The purpose of this study was to examine the production and regaining of collective efficacy within an elite sport team during a season. The fieldwork was possible because the author was an assistant coach on a women's handball team participating in the World Championships and the Olympics. Acting as a participant observer during 1 year, the author observed efficacy-building processes from within the team. The fieldwork was supplemented by 17 qualitative interviews after the season. The study showed that production of collective efficacy was an interpersonal process, brought about by perceptions of previous performances, interpretations of team history, preparations for the upcoming contest, common rituals, and persuasive actions. When the team was confronted with failures, however, team-efficacy beliefs were vulnerable and needed constant reinforcement.
Ronglan, Lars Tore; Raastad, Truls & Børgesen, Arne (2006). Neuromuscular fatigue and recovery in elite female handball players. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 16(4), p. 267–273. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of neuromuscular fatigue and recovery from fatigue, following handball training and handball matches at elite level. The focus was specifically on changes in physical performance when playing three matches over the course of 3 days, which simulates a sequence in international championships. Female players from the Norwegian national handball team were tested during a 5-day training camp (seven players) and a 3-day international tournament (eight players). Testing was done before and after training sessions and matches. Neuromuscular fatigue was measured as changes in voluntary isokinetic knee extensions, jump height in counter-movement jumps, and 20 m sprint time. The results showed a significant reduction by 2-6% in all three performance tests during the training camp and by 4-7% during the tournament (sprint and jump test) (P < 0.05). Slow recovery was indicated by incomplete restoration of performance between matches and training sessions. The paper discusses the insufficient recovery measured related to handball performance. Because of changes in the rules of the game and strategic tendencies towards higher speed in play, the physical demands in elite handball seems to be increasing. The results of the study indicate that coaches should consider physical loading and recovery time available when distributing playing time between individual players in international tournaments.
Ronglan, Lars Tore; Moe, Vegard Fusche & Loland, Sigmund (2003). Vi må tro at vi kan klare det! : om håndballandslagets arbeid med troen, I bevegelse : et festskrift til Gunnar Breivik på hans 60-årsdag. Gyldendal Undervisning. p. 126–139. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
I toppidrettens prestasjonsgrupper tillegges troen stor betydning. Hardt arbeid må ledsages av tro. I håndballandslaget betraktet deltakerne troen som avgjørende; den ble tematisert på ulike vis, den ble produsert og reprodusert gjennom mangfoldige metoder, og den ble symbolisert og kommunisert utad. I stedet for å betrakte troen som en tilstand eller variabel, er artikkelens intensjon å gi innblikk i tilblivelsen: Lagets løpende trosarbeid som en grunnleggende relasjonell virksomhet for stadig å gjenskape et forgjengelig fenomen.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2003). Ballspill er problemløsning : hvilke didaktiske implikasjoner har det? ?. 1(2), p. 91–111. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Med utgangspunkt i taktiske fellestrekk kan idrettslige spill deles i fire hovedformer: Invasjonsspill, nettspill, slagspill og treffspill. Invasjonsspillenes egenart springer ut av felles spillide og romorganisering. Siden med- og motspillere kan bevege seg i det samme rommet, og har motsatte interesser i spillet, møter spillerne hele tiden motstand mot det de prøver å oppnå. Utfordringen er gjennom samhandling å løse de konkrete situasjonene som vokser fram gjenom brytningen mellom spill og motspill. Problemløsning blir dermed noe mer enn et mulig pedagogisk virksmiddel - det er en helt sentral dimensjon ved spillkompetansen i seg selv. Artikkelen drøfter hvordan dette kan gjenspeiles i vår pedagogiske praksis, bl.a. ved å vektlegge tilpassede spillesituasjoner som den sentrale læringskontekst.
Ronglan, Lars Tore & Larsen, Øyvind (2003). Ballspillanalyse - mer enn arbeidskravsanalyse : om spillenes egenart og krav. ?. 1(2), p. 12–27. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Den grunnleggende tenkningen som ligger bak tradisjonelle arbeidskravsanalyser, er lite egnet for å gripe de kravene som ballspillene stiller til utøverne. Artikkelen underbygger denne påstanden, og tilbyr noen alternative utgangspunkter for å forstå ferdighet i spillene. Sentralt står samvirket mellom den strukturelle (kollektive), relasjonelle og individuelle dimensjonen ved ferdighetsbegrepet. Med utgangspunkt i analysen av spillesituasjons egenart, argumenterer vi for betydningen av komplementæredelferdigheter og individuelle spesialkompetanser for å skape prestasjoner i ballspill.
Børgesen, Arne; Fosnæs, Ola & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2002). Mein Freund der Ball : Vom Spiel zum Sportspiel. ?. 26(6), p. 20–23. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Bidraget beskriver en modell for utvikling av ballkontroll, ballglede og kast-/mottaksferdigheter. Modellen skisserer en progresjon fra det å bli venn med ballen, til det å leke med og spille ball sammen med andre. Forfatterne er ansatt ved ballspillseksjonen ved Norges Idrettshøgskole, og arbeider bl.a. med ballaktiviteter og ballspill for barn og unge. Modellen som presenteres, anvendes ved Norges Idrettshøgskole som basis for læring av spill som basketball og håndball. Læringsteoretisk tar modellen utgangspunkt i en radikal konstruktivistisk tilnærming (Gréhaigne, Bouthier & Godbout 1999): Barn og unge kan gjennom ballspillerfaringer selv oppdage/skape hensiktsmessige bevegelsesløsninger. Dette forutsetter læringssituasjoner tilpasset deltakerens erfaringsbakgrunn, og problemløsningsoppgaver som oppleves meningsfulle. The article describes a model to develop ball control and skills in ballthrowing and -receiving. The model focus on how the child can develop good relationsships with the ball, and outlines the steps beeing "friend with the ball", "play with the ball",and "play ball with others". The authors are employed at the Norwegian University og Sport and Physical education, and work with ball activities and ball games for children and youths. The model is used at the university as a basis in learning games asbasketball and handball. Teoretically the point of departure is a radical constructivist approach (Gréhaigne, Bouthier & Godbout 1999): Children can through ball experiences discover/create functional movements by themselves. This demand learning situations that is created on the basis of the participants background, and problem solving tasks which is meaningful to the children.

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Ronglan, Lars Tore (2018). Lagspilltreneren. Akilles forlag. ISBN 9788272862625. 160 p. Full text in Research Archive
Andersen, Svein S; Houlihan, Barrie & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2015). Managing elite sport systems : research and practice. Routledge. ISBN 9781138803275. 204 p. Full text in Research Archive
Andersen, Svein S & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2012). Nordic elite sport : same ambitions - different tracks. Universitetsforlaget. ISBN 9788215019390. 304 p. Full text in Research Archive
Jones, Robyn Lloyd; Potrac, Paul; Cushion, Chris & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2011). The Sociology of sports coaching / edited by Robyn L. Jones, paul Potrac, Chris Cushion and Lars Tore Ronglan. Routledge. ISBN 9780415560849. 214 p. Full text in Research Archive
Hallén, Jostein & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2011). Treningslære for idrettene. Akilles forlag. ISBN 9788272862274. 368 p. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore; Halling, Anders & Teng, Gunnar (2009). Ballspill over grenser : skandinaviske tilnærminger til læring og utvikling. Akilles forlag. ISBN 9788272862212. 203 p. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2008). Lagspill, læring og ledelse : om lagspillenes didaktikk. Akilles forlag. ISBN 9788272861963. 206 p. Full text in Research Archive

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Roppen, Johann; Lind, Guro Elisabeth; Støle, Elisabeth Maråk; Asheim, Henrik; Skarpenes, Nina & Urdal, Henrik [Show all 27 contributors for this article] (2020). «2021 er året da vi vet å verdsette det 2020 ikke ga oss» : toppene i kunnskapsnorge hilser det nye året med ønske om hedonistiske kjempefester, liv og energi på campus og en porsjon optimisme - etter hvert. [Journal]. khrono.no. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2017). The deconstruction and reconstruction of sports coaching: An interview with Professor Robyn Jones: A commentary. International journal of sports science & coaching. ISSN 1747-9541. 12(4), p. 426–428. doi: 10.1177/1747954117718088. Full text in Research Archive
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. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2015). Idrætsforskerens engagement : om hvordan man arbejder sig "ind og ud af feltet". In Thing, Lone Friis & Ottesen, Laila (Ed.), Metoder i idræts- og fysioterapiforskning. Munksgaard Forlag. ISSN 9788762814967. p. 50–67. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2014). Combining continuity and novelty : building sustained success : a letter from Norway. ASPETAR Sports Medicine Journal. ISSN 2304-0904. 3, p. 232–235. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Sigmundstad, Einar (2011). Effects of gender, game format, and skill on ball possession in Norwegian youth soccer. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2009). Hva er en god trener? Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2009). Beyond match results: Intermediate measures of effectiveness and their relative ability to explain goal scoring in soccer. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2009). Prestasjonsgruppas dilemma : samarbeid og konkurranse. Moving bodies - menneske i bevegelse. ISSN 1503-6065. 7(1), p. 61–70. Full text in Research Archive
Tenga, Albin; Kanstad, Daniel; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Bahr, Roald (2008). Developing and testing the reliability of team match performance analysis in professional football. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2006). Coach education in European handball: Integration of University and Federation programs? Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The National Handball Federations and the National Universities of Sport and Physical Education in the European countries are in different ways contributing to the coach education in the respective countries. A summery of the national organization and structure of the sport education system shows that in some countries there are no links between federations and universities, while other countries have made efforts to coordinate their coach education programs. The lecture discusses the conditions for a better coordination and the benefits of such cooperation both for federations, universities and coaches.
Ronglan, Lars Tore & Grydeland, Jon (2006). The effects of changing the rules and reducing the court dimension on the relative strengths between game actions in top international beach volleyball. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. ISSN 2474-8668. 6(1), p. 1–12. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The purpose of the study was to investigate the quality and efficiency of game actions in top international beach volleyball for men before and after the changing of court dimension and scoring system in 2001. The winning teams in 17 semi-finals and finals in three World Tour tournaments in 1999/2000 were compared with the winning teams in 17 semi-finals and finals in the same tournaments in 2001/2002. The results showed a significant reduction in serve efficiency and attack efficiency after the change of regulations, as well as a significant increase in block actions and block efficiency.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2005). The Importance of Belief. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Team efficacy represents the application of the concept of efficacy on a group level. During one season, group processes involved in the development, decline and restoration of team efficacy were observed in a top level sport team. In a longitudinal perspective, team confidence was brought about by interpretations of previous performances, understandings of team history, common rituals and persuading actions. When confronted with failures, efficacy beliefs were vulnerable, and had to be worked upon continously.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2005). Coaching i ballspill. Teoretiske perspektiver og praktiske konsekvenser. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Coachingforståelsen forankres i forhold til: a) Undervisning og læring, b) aktivitetens egenart, og c) treningsprosessen. På denne bakgrunn forstås coaching som "tilrettelegging og veiledning i idrettslige praksisfellesskap, fundert på pedagogisk og psykologisk kunnskap, aktivitetskkunnskap og treningskunnskap". Coaching ses dermed som en form for undervisning som skal understøtte læringsprosesser i et aktivitetsfelt. Coaching viser til en helhetlig og integrert profesjonskompetanse, som kommer til uttrykk gjennom hvordan en forholder seg til og leder prosesser i idrettslige praksisfellesskap.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2005). Lagbygging. Hvordan gjøre hverandre gode? Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore; Klisouras, Vassilis; Kellis, S. & Mouratidis, I. (2004). Apprenticeship : a method to develop competencies in a top level sport team. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Apprenticeship is about creating personal practical knowledge by observation, imitation and learning from other people's embodied knowledge. An international elite handball team was studied (observation, qualitative research interviews) in terms of teaching-learning strategies. The study showed that a)apprenticeship was proceeding as a continous process in the group, b)player-player coaching may increase transfer of competencies in a group, and c)emphasizing learning through apprenticeship suppose de-emphasizing of instruction based methods.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2004). Hva kjennetegner en prestasjonskultur? Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2003). En medietilpasset sjel? Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2003). Håndballfysikk - har vi noe å lære av østeuropeiske treningstradisjoner? Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Foredrag basert på pågående prosjekt: Hvordan utvikle håndballfysikk? En komparativ studie av en russisk, en jugoslavisk og en nordisk treningstradisjon. Vektlegging på beskrivelse av den jugoslaviske treningstradisjonen: Teknisk-fysisk trening, integrerte øvelser, sammensatte bevegelsesmønstre. Stor vekt på spenstutholdenhet, hurtighetsutholdenhet, styrkeutholdenhet, gjennom funksjonelle håndballspesifikke bevegelsesoppgaver. Håndballfysisk trening er i mindre grad skilt ut som egen treningsform, slik som i den nordiske tradisjonen. Fysikk-i-ferdighet, i stedet for fysikk og ferdighet.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2002). Mot verdenstoppen med et lag - et idrettssosiologisk perspektiv. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Internt samarbeid er essensielt for et lag som skal utvikle kollektiv slagkraft i toppidretten. Samtidig er den interne konkurransen i laget strukturelt innebygget, og kommer til uttrykk som kampen om plassen på laget - den interne kampen om spilletid. Et grunnleggende spørsmål i lagsbygging dreier seg derfor om hvordan en som leder/trener kan bidra til å redusere opplevelsen av den interne spenningen som et null-sum spill. Ved å vektlegge komplementære ferdigheter, utnytte relasjonelle ferdigheter, og skape flere sterke presnasjonsenheter (konstellasjoner av spillere) internt, kan samstemt samhandling optimaliseres samtidig som den interne individuelle konkurransen nedtones.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2002). The handball team in top level sport : a doubleness of internal cooperation and internal competition. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
We have a tendency to look at cooperation and competition as mutual (resiprocal) exclusively concepts. Instead, I argue that both of these social relations are present in a team trying to perform and reach good results in international top level sport.The logic of competing, and the internal code of performance enhancement, create a structural tension in such teams. The mix of cooperation and competition leads to a tension that cannot be removed. The tension, and the instability and insecurity that the tension creates, instead has to be handled personally and socially within the group.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2002). Samarbeid og konkurranse. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2002). Mot en utvidet treningslære? Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Den tradisjonelle utviklingen av treningslæren baserer seg på følgende forankringer. 1)Faglig forankring: Fagfeltet har i stor grad vært formet på et naturvitenskapelig grunnlag. 2) Praksis-forankring: Kunnskapsutviklingen har basert seg på studier av en bestemt kategori idrettsgrener. 3) Metodologisk forankring: Indre perspektiver på idrettsutøvelse - mening, opplevelse, erfaring - har i for liten grad blitt inkorporert. I foredraget argumenteres det for en utvidelse av grunnlaget for treningslæren langs alle de tre dimensjonene.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2001). Myggen som bestselger. ?. 31(1), p. 95–100. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Anmeldelse av Håvard Rem's bok om Erik Mykland, en bok som kom på Aschehoug Forlag høsten 2000 og ble en av årets store bestselgere. 40.000 bøker ble revet bort i løpet av to måneder etter utgivelsen. Bokas beskrivelser av Myklands livsstil som toppidrettsutøver vurderes i anmeldelsen i relasjon til toppidrettens rasjonalitet. Også bokas refleksjoner rundt - og bidrag til -mediekonstruksjonen "Myggen", blir drøftet i anmeldelsen. Anmeldelsen konkluderer med at boka om Myklander velskrevet, at innholdet har idrettssosiologisk interesse, men at forfatterens nesegruse beundring for hovedpersonen blokkerer for alternative perspektiv enn Mykland "som kunstner". Blant annet er et perspektiv på Mykland "som lagspiller" fraværende i teksten.
Ronglan, Lars Tore (2000). Elitelaget på og utenfor banen - prestasjoner og sosialt samspill. Full text in Research Archive
Fretland, Frode; Moe, Vegard Fusche; Barsnes, Birte; Fossøy, Joar & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2013). Sluttevaluering av prosjektet "TOPP-idrettsutviking for ungdom 16-19 år". Høgskulen i Sogn og Fjordane. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Prosjektet «TOPP – idrettsutvikling for ungdom 16-19 år» starta sommaren 2008 og vert avrunda fem år seinare på sommaren 2013. Prosjektet er eigd av Sogn og Fjordane idrettskrins. Sparebanken Sogn og Fjordane har finansiert prosjektet med ein totalsum på rundt 6,3 millionar kroner. Idrettssenteret A/S i Sogndal har hatt prosjektleiing og vore praktisk drivar av prosjektet. Målet til prosjektet har vore å styrka aktivitets-, kunnskaps- og kompetanseutviklinga i idretten i Sogn og Fjordane gjennom lokal oppfølging. Utøvarane har vore i fokus, men prosjektet har også involvert trenarar og støtteapparat lokalt i utvalte klubbmiljø. HiSF, Institutt for idrett, har stått for ei kontinuerleg undervegsevaluering av Topprosjektet frå 2009-2013. Dette skrivet skildrar sluttevalueringa som vart utført våren 2013 og inneheld fem delar: 1) konteksten for evalueringa, 2) arbeidet i evalueringsgruppa, 3) evalueringa av TOPP, 4) dimensjonar og spenningar i diskusjonar om idrettsutvikling for ungdom og 5) avsluttande tilrådingar.
Ronglan, Lars Tore; Tenga, Albin & Sigmundstad, Einar (2012). Studie av spillformer med og uten frisone i femmer- og sjuerfotball. Forskningssenter for Trening og Prestasjon (FTP), NIH. Full text in Research Archive
Ronglan, Lars Tore; Tenga, Albin & Sigmundstad, Einar (2010). Spillorganisering i barne- og ungdomsfotballen: ulike spillformers betydning for barnas involvering. Forskningssenter for Trening og Prestasjon (FTP), NIH. Full text in Research Archive
Goksøyr, Matti & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2005). Moving Bodies Mennesket i bevegelse. Norges idrettshøgskole. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
I dette nummeret av Moving Bodies lever journalen virkelig opp til sitt tverrfaglige ideal. De fire artiklene som publiseres spenner fra en sosialantropologisk/vitenskapsteoretisk drøfting av idealer og praksis i forskning, via en sosiologisk undersøkelse av maskulinitet/femininitet i idrettsfeltet og en idrettspedagogisk drøfting av begrepet livserfaring til en gjennomgang og vurdering av forskning på barns benhelse.
Goksøyr, Matti; Ronglan, Lars Tore & Dahlén, Peter (2004). Moving Bodies. Tema: Sport og medier. Norges idrettshøgskole. Full text in Research Archive
Goksøyr, Matti & Ronglan, Lars Tore (2004). Moving Bodies Menneske i bevegelse. Norges idrettshøgskole. Full text in Research Archive

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Published Oct. 17, 2023 1:11 PM - Last modified Apr. 17, 2026 9:22 AM