Mediation Effect of Age Category on the Relationship between Body Composition and the Physical Fitness Profile in Youth Handball Players

Abstract

The aims of the present study were (1) to determine the differences in body composition and the physical and physiological profile of handball youths across age categories, and (2) to analyze the mediation effect of different categories on the relationship between lean mass or fat mass and specific physical handball capacities. Fifty-four young handball players aged 13 to 18 were assigned to U14 (13- and 14-year-olds), U16 (15- and 16-year-olds), and U18 (17- and 18-year-olds). Body composition was measured using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance (Inbody®, 230). Handball physical fitness was assessed using handgrip force, jumping tests (squat jump, countermovement jump, countermovement jump with aimed arms), a 30-m sprint, a change-of-direction test (T-half agility test and modified Illinois test), and a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1. Simple mediation analysis was performed to analyze whether the category mediated the relationship between lean mass or fat mass and physical capacities. No significant differences were observed according to category for the majority of the measured parameters, except for height, lean body mass, and arm span. Lean body mass increased significantly as player category increased (p < 0.05; ∆ = 4.66–9.38; effect size (ES) = 0.96–1.92). The increase in handball category enhanced the majority of the physical capacities evaluated; however, these differences were reduced between the U16 vs. U18 categories. The indirect mediation effect suggests that handball category mediated the relationship between lean mass and upper and lower strength, velocity, agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness. In contrast, an indirect effect suggests that category mediated the relationship between fat mass only in agility and cardiorespiratory fitness. We conclude that U18s showed better body composition parameters, as well as better physical performance scores. Handball category clearly mediated the relationship between body composition through lean mass and fat mass and the physiological profile in handball youth, but lean mass proved to be more relevant when mediating physical performance.

Anthropometric Dimensions and Bone Quality in International Male Beach Handball Players: Junior vs. Senior Comparison

“…These aspects define the determinants of coordination, endurance, strength and cognition in this sport [14,15]. To achieve optimal performance, actions must be performed with maximum intensity [16,17]. In BH players, groupings are made by date of birth, dividing them into juniors and seniors [16].…”

“…To achieve optimal performance, actions must be performed with maximum intensity [16,17]. In BH players, groupings are made by date of birth, dividing them into juniors and seniors [16]. Therefore, depending on the age category, body composition and technical abilities differ, influencing success and development as a player [16,18].…”

“…As mentioned above, numerous studies have shown that body composition and anthropometric measurements are determinant in youth and senior handball players, both in indoor and beach handball [16,[18][19][20]. Many research studies have shown that optimal body composition in athletes is associated with improvements in physical performance (aerobic and anaerobic) and muscle strength [21][22][23][24][25][26].…”

“…Anthropometric characteristics have been shown to be decisive in indoor handball in junior and senior teams [16,18,20,27]. In addition, a direct influence between body composition and performance tests has been observed [6,28].…”

Is It Time for Sports and Health in the Era of Covid-19 Pandemic?

“…Hopefully, a large number of papers were published. These high-quality papers covered a wide range of topics in Sports and Health such as different ball games [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ], training analyses [ 7 , 8 ], and health aspects such as vitamin D in adolescent athletes [ 9 ], treating obesity and the metabolic syndrome [ 10 , 11 ], infectious diseases such as HIV [ 12 ], exercise addiction [ 13 ], the level of mood and depression [ 14 ], tobacco use in elite athletes [ 15 ], and the aspect of the Covid-19 pandemic [ 16 , 17 ]. We hope that these papers will contribute to the advancement of Sports and Health sciences by offering practical applications for professionals in the field.…”