The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of special operations battalion (SOB) training program on soldiers' fitness parameters. The research was conducted on a sample of 25 members (mean ± SD: age 27.93 ± 5.12 years, height 178.64 ± 6.91 cm, body mass 81.42 ± 9.18 kg) of the Croatian Armed Forces for SOB, divided into control and experimental groups. Total duration of the SOB basic training was 62 days. The sample of variables consists of 12 tests for the assessment of fitness characteristics, 2 tests for functional capacity, and 18 morphological measures. Morphological parameters were measured according to the instructions of the International Biological Program. Fitness characteristics were measured with the following tests: 1-kg medicine ball throw from a seated position, standing broad jump (SBJ), relative sergeant test, 20-m sprint, the maximum thrust from the bench, push-ups in 2 minutes (PU(2minutes)), sit-ups in 2 minutes (SU(2minutes)), pull-ups (PU), thrust from the bench with 70% of body weight (BP(70%)), crawling and jumping, agility test 93639 with turn (A9-3-6-3-9), and sit and reach. Functional abilities were evaluated with 2 tests: 3,200 m running (SK3200) and 300 yards running (MBI3Y). There was a statistically significant difference in a set of fitness characteristics variables analyzed between the 2 groups in initial and final measurements in the multivariate level. Analyzing the results of t-test, differences of variables, it was evident that the difference after the SOB program occurred in 7 variables in the experimental group: SBJ, PU2minutes, SU2minutes, PU, BP70%, MBI3Y, and SK3200. Basic training for SOB during 8 weeks has produced significant burnout of the body for the participants who have completed their training. This led to a reduction in fitness performance manifested through the tested variables.

The aim of the present study was to analyse load to which players were exposed to and effort they invested in 4vs4 small-sided handball games in relation to various court dimensions. Eight male amateur handball players participated in three eight-minute 4vs4 (plus goalkeepers) small-sided handball games. The three court dimensions were 12×24 m, 30×15 m and 32×16 m. Using Global Positioning System devices (SPI pro elite 15hz, GPSports), time-motion video analysis, and Borg’s scale for rating of perceived exertion (RPE), the following performance, physiological and psychological parameters were recorded: cyclic movements for distance covered, acyclic movements for the number of technical actions executed, heart rate, and RPE. Total distance travelled increased with the increase in court size (948.1±64.5, 1087.2±92.0 and 1079.8±90.6 on the 24×12 m, 30×15 m and 32×16 m court, respectively; p<.05). Distance covered by the players in four speed zones revealed the substantial difference between the games played on the 24×12 and 30×15m court in the first and third (p<.05; moderate ES) speed zone. On the 24×12 m court players covered more distance while moving in the first speed zone, but less distance when moving in the third speed zone (p<.05; moderate ES). On the 32×16 m court the players covered less distance while moving in the first speed zone, but they covered more distance by moving in the third speed zone (p<.05; moderate ES). There were no substantial differences found for the second and fourth speed zone cyclic movements and distances covered on all the three experimental court sizes. No statistical differences between the games played on various court dimensions were found in acyclic movements. No statistical differences were found in the analysis of heart rate. Further analysis of players’ self-evaluated effort confirmed the trend of heart rate values, showing no statistical differences in the RPE values among the three different court dimensions. Our findings indicate that changing court dimensions during 4vs4 small-sided handball games could influence load imposed on the players and their exertion.

The aim was to establish differences in morphological characteristics of 48 selected female younger cadet (U14) handball players (age 13.88±0.46 years) in the playing positions of wings, backs and pivots. The sample of variables embraced 24 morphological measures defining the already established four latent body dimensions. Univariate ANOVA revealed the significant global differences among the three groups of U14 players in 11 morphological measures. Between the backs and pivots no significant differences were established. The greatest differences between the pivots and wings were established in body height, leg length, arm length, ankle breadth, body weight and calf circumference (p<.01). The greatest differences between the wings and backs were established in four variables: body height, arm length, knee breadth and ankle breadth (p<.01). We endorse the interpretation that specificities of technical-tactical activities executed by backs and pivots in attack repose in the background of the established differences, that is, backs and pivots are exposed to more body contacts in attack in which they must overcome defenders’ resistance. In the sample of the Croatian U14 female handballers apparently no somatotypic component prevailed. However, a slightly larger contribution of endomorph component was perceived in the pivots’ body composition, which was in line with the general results of the entire age group. In U14 backs both the endomorph and mesomorph component were pronounced equally, whereas all the three components were of even values in the wings

The aim of the study was to determine performance indicators of winning and defeated women teams of the 2012 Olympic Games handball tournament. The sample of entities consisted of 27 games played during the preliminary round of the competition. The sample of variables consisted of the completed and unsuccessfully executed technical and tactical handball elements in attacking and defensive actions during handball matches (14 variables describing performance in attack and three variables related to defensive play). The differences between the winning and defeated teams in performance variables were determined using the Mann-Whitney U-test. The results showed statistically significant differences between the winning and defeated teams in the following variables: successful fast-break shots (5.11 ± 2.79 vs. 3.00 ± 1.88), unsuccessful wing shots (2.33 ± 1.24 vs. 3.67 ± 1.98), unsuccessful long-range shots (10.70 ± 3.98 vs. 13.37 ± 4.33), steals (5.48 ± 2.28 vs. 4.04 ± 2.07), and assists (13.81 ± 4.04 vs. 11.37 ± 3.59). The winning teams were better in the variables defining offensive performance effectiveness, especially with regard to successful performance of counter attacks; they also had higher efficiency of attacking actions with a strict selection of distance shots and wing shots, as well as a higher number of assists and steals.

The aim of the study was to analyze positional differences in anthropometric characteristics of 48 Croatian selected female handball juniors (average age 18.43 years) who played in three positions: backs (B; n=19), wings (W; n=7) and pivots (P; n=6). Twenty-four anthropometric measures, defining the four latent morphological dimensions, were used. Globally, significant differences were revealed by means of ANOVA in 11 morphological measures (7 at p≤.01 and 4 at p≤.05) between the three groups of female juniors with no significant differences in longitudinal dimensions. Only one significant positional difference was found between pivots and backs (in the lower leg skinfold in favour of pivots suggesting a higher body fat percentage. Between wings and pivots no significant differences were found in longitudinal body dimensions; however, the measures of skeletal transversality, voluminosity and partially of fatty tissue (two variables) corroborated the fundamental difference between these two positions: pivotsʼ body built was more robust. No significant differences were found in longitudinal and almost all transversal measures between backs and wings; however, the differences in body voluminosity (all in favour of backs) were probably due to the selection process. In the juniorsʼ somatotype (3.72‒3.49‒2.32), endomorph and mesomorph components were predominant over the ectomorph component, in which the lowest values were obtained from the players in all the three positions. It is of outmost importance that handball practitioners should work on the reduction of players’ percentage of subcutaneous fatty tissue and on the enhancement of the portion of active muscle mass in their body composition by the implementation of quality sports training programmes and changes in dietary habits if better game performance and sports achievements of the Croatian junior female handball players are expected.