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 purpose of the study was to assess assumed differences in some physiological parameters, obtained by an incremental intermittent running field test 30–15IFT, among elite handball players to get an insight into the specifics of aerobic capacity profiles of players in different playing positions. Twenty-four elite male handball players were tested using the Cosmed K4 portable telemetry system. The following parameters were analysed: running velocity, heart rate, oxygen uptake, relative oxygen uptake, pulmonary ventilation breath-by-breath, at the three points—lactate threshold (LT), onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA), and at the peak velocity achieved on the test (v30–15IFT). Additionally, blood lactate concentration was analysed at v30–15IFT. The players were divided in three groups based on their playing positions: eight backcourt players, eight wing players and eight pivot players. In terms of both the statistically significant and non-significant differences, the wings achieved slightly different results in comparison to the backcourt players and pivots. The wings reached a statistically significant higher velocity at the LT than the players of the other two groups and a significantly higher velocity than the pivots at the OBLA. At all the three points, wings presented the highest HR values, meaning they can operate at higher intensities still within the aerobic work zone. This would probably allow wing players to longer persist in handball game.
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the physiological parameters indicative of cardiorespiratory fitness obtained during the 30-15 intermittent fitness (30-15IFT) test and the multistage laboratory treadmill endurance (TR) test differ. Nineteen elite handball players were recruited for the current study and assigned in a cross-over manner to one of two tests to be performed 48 h apart at each visit to the testing facility. The results showed that VO2max (percentage difference [PC] = 6.1%; p = 0.004) and maximal running velocity (V) (PC = 19.4%; p < 0.001) were significantly higher for the 30-15IFT test than that obtained during the TR test. Furthermore, the onset of blood lactate accumulation was shown to be significantly higher for all measures considered to predict it during 30-15IFT compared to TR as follows: VO2max (PC = 12.6%; p = 0.001), running speed (PC = 33.9%; p < 0.001), and maximal heart rate (PC = 7.5%; p < 0.001). The current study highlights the importance of sport-specific testing, particularly for measuring individual cardiorespiratory fitness in elite handball players, as TR may underestimate crucial variables used for both diagnostics and training prescription.
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