Knowledge management and transfer in handball coaches: a mixed study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v80.119292Keywords:
Management of knowledge, transfer of knowledge, sports training, tacit knowledge , reflective practice, mixed methods research, training of coaches, decision-makingAbstract
Objective: To analyze knowledge management and transfer among handball coaches, identifying key sources of knowledge, how knowledge is mobilized in practice, and the transfer strategies used with players.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted with 36 coaches (31 men, 5 women; aged 20–58). Sources of knowledge were assessed using a questionnaire, and 12 coaches participated in self-reflection interviews, with recorded training sessions. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman’s rank correlation, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis.
Results: Coaching experience (M = 4.43) and self-learning (M = 4.12) were the most highly valued sources of knowledge. Significant differences were observed based on level of experience: novice coaches relied more on academic knowledge and their previous experience as players, while experienced coaches prioritized professional experience. Five types of knowledge mobilized in practice were identified (situational-tactical, pedagogical-didactic, player-related, experiential, and tacit), along with transfer strategies such as direct instruction, feedback, questioning, modeling, and routine creation. The findings highlight the experiential and context-dependent nature of coaching knowledge.
Conclusions: Knowledge management in handball coaching draws on multiple sources, and professional experience becomes increasingly relevant over time. Self-reflection is a key tool for making tacit knowledge explicit and understanding transfer in real-world contexts.
References
Almonacid-Fierro, A., Vargas Vitoria, R., Mondaca Urrutia, J., & Sepúlveda-Vallejos, S. (2021). Profes-sional practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges for initial training in physical educa-tion. Retos, 42, 162–171. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v42i0.87353
Becerra Patiño, B. A., & Escorcia-Clavijo, J. B. (2023). Knowledge transfer and dissemination in sports training: An exploratory review. Retos, 50, 79–90. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v50.99163
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Sage.
Davenport, T. H., & Prusak, L. (1998). Working knowledge: How organizations manage what they know. Harvard Business School Press.
Feu Molina, S., Ibáñez Godoy, S. J., Lorenzo Calvo, A., Jiménez Saiz, S., & Cañadas Alonso, M. (2012). Pro-fessional knowledge acquired by handball coaches: Experiences and training. Journal of Sport Psychology, 21(1), 107–115. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/2351/235124455014.pdf
Field, A. (2018). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th ed.). Sage.
Flick, U. (2018). An introduction to qualitative research (6th ed.). Sage.
Le Boedec, K. (2016). Sensitivity and specificity of normality tests and consequences on reference in-terval accuracy at small sample size: A computer-simulation study. Veterinary Clinical Patholo-gy, 45(4), 648–656. https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.12390
Lecha Martin, D. A., & Font Rodríguez, I. (2024). Characterization of knowledge management in high-performance athletics. Olimpia Scientific Journal, 22(1), 151–167. https://revistas.udg.co.cu/index.php/olimpia/article/view/4842
Martínez-Salinas, F. J. (2023). Knowledge management in sports practice. Revista Docentes 2.0, 16(2), 24–29. https://doi.org/10.37843/rted.v16i2.370
Muñoz-Bedoya, J.-F., & Cardona, L. (2025). Knowledge management in the administration of physical education and sports science training programs. Praxis & Saber, 16(46), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.19053/uptc.22160159.v16.n46.2025.18104
Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (1995). The knowledge-creating company: How Japanese companies create the dynamics of innovation. Oxford University Press.
Qin, Y., Rocha, C. M., & Morrow, S. (2022). Knowledge management in sport mega-events: A systematic literature review. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4, Article 1056390. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.1056390
Quinaud, R. T., Cruz Martins, L., & Milistetd, M. (2026). The Competency Questionnaire for Coaches: Measuring the Functional Competencies of Sports Coaches. Retos, 77, 42–55. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v77.118005
Ruxton, G. D., Wilkinson, D. M., & Neuhäuser, M. (2015). Advice on testing the null hypothesis that a sample is drawn from a normal distribution. Animal Behaviour, 107, 249–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.07.006
Schön, D. A. (1983). The reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action. Basic Books.
Velasquez-Semper, F., Toloza Vásquez, T., Romero Pérez, J., & Núñez-Moscoso, J. (2025). The self-confrontation interview as a means of accessing teacher education: Theoretical, methodologi-cal, and practical aspects. Journal of Studies and Experiences in Education, 24(54), 294–313. https://doi.org/10.21703/rexe.v24i54.2715
Villasana, L., Hernández, P., & Ramírez, É. (2021). Knowledge management: Past, present, and future. A literature review. Trascender, Accounting and Management, 6(18), 53–78. https://doi.org/10.36791/tcg.v0i18.128
Zhou, J. (2023). A systematic review of knowledge transfer in international sport mega-events. Sustain-ability, 15(6), Article 4902. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064902
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Reidel Cordovés Peinado, Alfonso De La Rubia Riaza, Daylanis Gutierrez Cruzata, Igor Arsene, Raul Orlando Figueroa Soriano, Alex Esau Chacón Sevilla
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.
