Purpose. beach handball is a physically demanding sport. the aim of the study was to establish the relationships between anthropometric characteristics and overarm ball speed, a key performance factor. Methods. Overall, 11 male players from the Spanish beach handball national team were recruited. throw speed was assessed in 3 throw types: standing throw (St), standing throw after two steps (rSt), and jump throw with a run-up and self-spin (rSSt). Pearson correlation was used to determine the correlation between variables. Magnitudes were evaluated qualitatively with magnitude-based inference, and the effects of anthropometric variables on the throw tests were analysed with stepwise multiple regression. Results. Maximal throw speed was 25.64 ± 4.14 m • s-1 for St, 23.71 ± 4.24 m • s-1 for rSt, and 24.83 ± 5.49 m • s-1 for rSSt. Large positive correlations were found between throw speed and middle, ring, and little finger lengths (P4 polygon) (r = 0.66 and 0.61 for St and rSSt, respectively). Very large (r = 0.77) and large (r = 0.68) correlations were observed between St and rSt, respectively, and elbow breadth. these results were likely positive for St: P4 (76/24/0), elbow epicondyle distance (EED) (91/9/0); and for rSt: EED (79/21/0); and possibly positive for rSt: P4 (68/32/0). St and rSt were predicted by P4 in 44% and by combining P4 and finger span FS1 in 68%. Conclusions. St and rSt ball speed in beach handball was related to specific hand/elbow anthropometric characteristics which can be easily measured.

This study describes the anthropometric and physical profile of the team that was the World Champion of female Beach Handball in 2016. 12 international level field players from Spain Beach Handball National Team participated in this study. The anthropometric and physical profile of the players has been evaluated, measuring: height and weight; skin folds and somatotype was determined. For the physical profile have been measured: maximal isometric hand grip force; throw velocity (throw in static support behind the line of 6 meters; throw with three steps run throw and jump with turn of 360º); speed 5 and 10 meters; countermovement jump (CMJ) and Repeated Sprint Ability on Sand (RSAS). Somatotype obtained from the sample studied, characterized by mesomorphy-endomorphy (3,33-3,35-2,65). The physical profile shown by the beach handball players champions of the world were: handgrip show very similar values to those shown by the elite Team Handball players. Throw velocity values are slightly higher to those obtained in other studies with Team Handball players. The Spanish World Champion Beach Handball players show anthropometric characteristics with low values than those shown by Beach Handball players of other nationalities, and by Team Handball players.

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar las lesiones más frecuentes en jugadores españoles de élite de balonmano playa. Ochenta deportistas de élite de, procedentes de veinte diferentes clubs participantes en el Arena Handball Tour de la Real Federación Española de Balonmano, participaron voluntariamente en el estudio. Para el tratamiento de los datos se realizó el test Chi-cuadrado (x2) para pruebas no paramétricas. El análisis estadístico de los resultados (p < .05) indicó que la región corporal en la que se produjeron más lesiones fueron las extremidades inferiores (54.2%), más concretamente los músculos isquiotibiales (23.7%) y el diagnóstico más repetido esguince (28.8%). El tipo de lesión más reiterada fue la nueva lesión (66.1%), siendo el impacto (57.6%) el modo más frecuente. También se obtuvieron datos acerca del momento en el que se produjeron más lesiones, la competición (61.0%). El 26.3% sufre dolor crónico a causa de una vieja lesión. Este estudio ofrece información determinante a especialistas para la prevención de lesiones en la preparación de jugadores de élite.Abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the most frequent injuries in elite Spanish beach handball players. Eighty elite athletes from twenty different clubs participating in the Arena Handball Tour of the Royal Spanish Handball Federation voluntarily participated in the study. For the treatment of the data, the Chi-square test was performed (x2) for non-parametric tests. The statistical analysis of the results (p < .05) indicated that the body region in which there were more injuries were the lower extremities (54.2%), more specifically the hamstring muscles (23.7%) and the most repeated diagnosis was the sprain (28.8%). The most repeated type of injury was firs-time lesion (66.1%), with impact (57.6%) being the most frequent mode. Data were also obtained about the moment in which injuries occur, competition (61.0%). 26.3% suffer chronic pain due to a recurring injury. This study offers decisive information to specialists for the prevention of injuries in the preparation of elite players.