The Effect of Integrating Fixed and Variable Practice Schedules on Retention of Some Basic Handball Skills

The study aims to:

Uncover the effect of fixed-variable practice schedules on retaining some basic handball skills.
The effect of variable-fixed practice schedules on retaining some basic handball skills.
The differences between the two experimental groups in the retention test of some basic handball skills.

The study population consisted of first-grade students at Al-Nidal Intermediate School for Boys for the academic year (2021-2022), totaling (175) students representing five classes, who were deliberately selected. The study sample consisted of students from classes (A and B), who were intentionally chosen due to the alignment of their class schedules, totaling (75) students. A number of students were excluded, totaling (31) who were either repeaters or absent for the pretests, as well as students from the reliability sample and pilot studies. Thus, the final sample number was (44) students, representing (25.142%) of the study population. The sample was divided into two groups of (22) students each. The practice schedule methods were distributed to two groups by lottery.
The equivalence of the two groups was verified concerning variables such as age, height, weight, some physical and motor fitness elements, some mental abilities, and the selected basic handball skills. The researchers used the design of equivalent random groups with pre- and post-observation. Data collection methods included personal interviews, questionnaires, tests, and indirect scientific observation. The educational programs were implemented from 15/3/2022 to 21/4/2022, with two educational units per week for each group. Data were statistically processed using Pearson's simple correlation coefficient, T-test for equal-numbered related samples, T-test for equal-numbered unrelated samples, percentage, and retention percentage.
The researchers concluded the following:
The use of the educational program prepared by the researchers (fixed-variable practice schedule) and (variable-fixed practice schedule) positively affected the retention of some selected basic handball skills.
The first experimental group, using the (fixed-variable practice schedule) method, outperformed the second experimental group, which used the (variable-fixed practice schedule) method in retaining some selected basic handball skills.