Influence of Physical Aspects and Throwing Velocity in Opposition Situations in Top-Elite and Elite Female Handball Players

Abstract

The relationship between anthropometric and physical characteristics of female handball players and throwing velocity is considered an important factor in handball performance. The aim of this study was to examine key differences in anthropometric and fitness characteristics between top elite and elite female players competing in the first Spanish handball league. A total of 89 players from the first Spanish handball league were divided into two groups, top elite (38) and elite (51) players, and assessed for anthropometric and fitness characteristics (throwing velocity, vertical jump and hand grip strength). A Student’s t-test was used to determine whether a statistically significant difference between the two different levels of play occurred. Significant differences were found in age, body height, body mass, arm span, muscle mass, different girths (tensed and flexed arm, forearm, wrist, ankle), dominant hand width and length, different breadths (biacromial, bitrochanteric, bistyloid breadth and biepicondylar humerus) and fitness characteristics (hand grip strength and throwing velocity for different positions). Top elite players compared to elite players showed differences in anthropometric characteristics which were mainly located in the upper limbs and mostly were nonmodifiable aspects by training. Furthermore, the best players were able to maintain a high throwing velocity in different tactical situations.

Effects of CYP1A2 and ADORA2A Genotypes on the Ergogenic Response to Caffeine in Professional Handball Players

“…Participants were encouraged to perform each throw toward the center of the goal with maximal velocity [53]. The throws were performed without any opposition and with opposition from the goalkeeper (GK) to simulate different situations [54]. Every participant performed three maximal shots for each type of throw (9 m, 9 m with GK, 7 m, and 7 m with GK).…”

Handball Research: State of the Art

“…In this way, coaches need to include a training rest period after the competitive period, to decrease the bilateral strength deficit and to support further fitness development ( Gonosova et al, 2018 ). Analysis of the performance of Spanish handball players according to their level revealed that anthropometric characteristics of the top-elite players differ from those of the elite players, mainly in their upper limbs ( Ferragut et al, 2018 ). On the contrary, a comparison of the Brazilian women’s Olympic team and a college team found no clear differences between them in the 5, 10, 20 m sprint, and zig-zag test performance ( Pereira et al, 2018 ), showing that these variables might perhaps not be decisive for the detection and/or selection of future talent.…”

Prediction of Handball Players' Performance on the Basis of Kinanthropometric Variables, Conditioning Abilities, and Handball Skills

“…In women, the variables selected by the multivariate models did not coincide with a study of elite players in which the 7 m standing throwing speed was the only variable selected ( Saavedra et al, 2018 ). Variables related to throwing speed (with and without the jump, with and without opposition) have, however, been found to differ between top-elite and elite players ( Ferragut et al, 2018 ). Although our different models selected more than one conditioning variable, similar models in another study ( Lidor et al, 2005 ) of 12- and 16-year-old players only selected the medicine ball throw.…”

“…It is complicated to define performance in team sports because of the many criteria that could be applied. For example, many research studies have used the players' level – professional or semi-professional vs. amateur ( Rivilla-García et al, 2010 ), elite vs top-elite ( Ferragut et al, 2018 ), selected vs. non-selected for the national team ( Zapartidis et al, 2009 ), the league played in, whether the first or the second division ( Krüge et al, 2014 ), and team player status, whether a starter or a reserve ( Saavedra et al, 2018 ). In this way, the differences that have been found in the kinanthropometric and conditioning variables depend on which performance criterion is selected.…”