The aims of this study were to define determinant factors that affected throwing actions used to score goals in handball, and to study the effectiveness of throwing actions and their relationships with different factors during their use, such as: the throwing distance, type of arm build, type of throw, whether it is done while jumping or while supported, the last supporting foot and the previous step cycle, as well as their relationship with the final score of the game in elite male handball competitions. A total of 1049 shots from 24 matches in the 2018/19/20 International Men’s Handball Championship were analysed. The results show that distance is relevant in the effectiveness of throwing, setting the build up, throwing while supported or jumping, the type of throwing, the type of steps cycle used and the supporting foot. This seems to indicate that the determining factor that affects a throw is distance.

The objectives of this study were: (i) to analyse anthropometric parameters and throwing speed from seven meters in amateur male handball players of different ages; (ii) to know the relationship between anthropometric parameters and throwing. One hundred seventy-six male handball players (16.5 ± 5.1 years old) participated in the study, classified according to their age: senior (n = 35), U18 (n = 30), U16 (n = 37), U14 (n = 50) and U12 (n = 24). All participants were evaluated by anthropometric measurements (height, weight, body mass index, arm span, hand width) and throwing speed from 7 m standing. A one-way analysis of variance with a Bonferroni post hoc test was used to establish the differences between teams. Pearson’s simple correlation coefficients were calculated between analyse anthropometric parameters and throwing speed. Multiple linear regression was used to predict the throwing speed. Only BMI was related with throwing speed in all age groups (0.506 > r < 0.813, p < 0.05). Throwing speed was predicted (24–72%) with only one or two variables in each model. The selected variables were: BMI, arm span in U16 model and height U14 model, and the BMI, arm span and height are proved to be good predictors of TS in male handball players.

The aim of this article was to analyze the step cycle that precedes the throwing action in elite men’s handball and its relationship with different factors, such as throwing distance, throwing technics, throw speed, whether it occurs in jump or standing, the last step, and efficiency. Twenty-four complete matches were analyzed, with a total of 1013 throws in three international elite men’s handball championships. The results show that the most used step cycle is the one performed with two steps. There is a significant relationship between the step cycle and the throw distance, with two-step throws being the most used from outside 9 m (29.8%, p < 0.001), three-step throws at a distance between 6 and 9 m (35.9%, p < 0.001), and zero- and one-step throws from 6 m (30.5%, p < 0.001). Likewise, the last step with natural footing is the most used (93.7%, p < 0.001) with a complete cycle of steps, followed by false foot with more than three steps (27.3%, p < 0.001), and two feet with zero steps (12.6%, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the skill to take advantage of the dynamic improvement offered by the mastery of the step cycle, adapting to the different situations of the game, could be an essential characteristic of the player to effectively complete the throwing action.