Anthropometric Profile, Vertical Jump, and Throwing Velocity in Elite Female Handball Players by Playing Positions

Abstract

Women's handball is a sport, which has seen an accelerated development over the last decade. Although anthropometric and physical characteristics have been studied for male sports teams, in women's handball, studies are scarce. The aim of this study was twofold: first, to describe the anthropometric characteristics, throwing velocity, hand grip, and muscular power of the lower limbs in female handball players and second, to identify the possible differences in these parameters in terms of individual playing positions (center, back, wing, pivot, and goalkeeper). A total of 130 elite female Spanish handball players participated in the study (age 25.74 ± 4.84 years; playing experience 14.92 ± 4.88 years). Anthropometric assessment was performed for all the subjects following the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry protocols. Furthermore, all the subjects performed a vertical jump test (squat jump and countermovement jump). Hand grip and throwing velocity in several situations were also assessed. A 1-way analysis of variance and a Tukey post hoc test were used to study the differences among individual playing positions. Wings were less heavy, shorter, and showed a smaller arm span than did goalkeepers, backs and pivots (p ≤ 0.001). Additionally, pivots were heavier than centers. Backs and pivots exhibited higher muscular mass than did wings. Total players' somatotype was mesomorphy endomorphy (3.89-4.28-2.29). Centers showed higher throwing velocity levels than did wings in 9-m throws from just behind the line, with a goalkeeper. Backs exhibited higher hand-grip values than did wings. Statistical differences have been established between wings and other specific playing positions, especially with pivot and backs. Coaches can use this information to select players for the different specific positions.

Selection of Talents in Handball: Anthropometric and Performance Analysis

“…Similarly, CMJ and 10 x 5 m shuttle run showed the same behavior in female players. The data suggest that, for female players, those variables that have an influence on performance but are not conditioned by maturation relate to explosive strength, which serves as a confirmation of the conclusions presented in previous studies 21,24,25 .…”

Anthropometric and physical performance characteristics of top-elite, elite and non-elite youth female team handball players

“…Success in team handball is determined by a variety of technical and tactical, mental, anthropometric and physical performance characteristics (Vila et al, 2012). Although the measurement of technical and tactical skills is often confounded by subjectivity, assessment for anthropometric and physical profiles enable the collection of objective data, which can be used to form structured talent detection and identification programmes (Bloomfield, Ackland, & Elliot, 1994) and identify areas for training focus.…”

Effectiveness of Male Handball Goalkeepers: A historical overview 1982-2012

“…In fact, the physical characteristics of goalkeepers, who are subjected to responsibilities different from other players, have been addressed by the scientific literature, along with other players based on the position of play. Physical and physiological characteristics in absolute male category (Ghobadi, Rajabi, Farzad, Bayati, & Jeffreys, 2013) and in female category (Cavala & Katic, 2010;Milanese, Piscitelli, Lampis, & Zancanaro, 2011Vila et al, 2012) have been studied. Similarly, there have been studies that have established the specific characteristics of dominate players in relation to the position in the field, either on specific selections (Sporis, Vuleta, Vuleta, Dinko, & Milanovic, 2010) or players at lower categories (Lopes, Jacobs, Travieso, & Araujo, 2014;Matthys, Fransen, Vaeyens, Lenoir, & Philippaerts, 2013;Rousanoglou, Noutsos, & Bayios, 2014;Zapartidis, Kororos, Christodoulidis, Skoufas, & Bayios, 2011).…”