ACCURACY AND THROWING VELOCITY IN HANDBALL

INTRODUCTION: Accuracy and throwing velocity in handball are regarded as basic parameters of performance during competition. Several investigators have studied the relationship between the velocity of movement of the upper limbs and accuracy in hitting the target, which has led to interesting theories (Schmidt, 1982, Eliasz et al., 1990, Hore, 1996). The aim of the present study was the comparative analysis of accuracy, in combination with ball velocity, while performing shots in handball, using as subjects athletes of various levels and non-athletes. METHODS: In order to measure accuracy, an innovative electronic device was used which was placed on the inner side of a goal post and functioned as a ‘targetpointer’ (by means of a red light) and ‘hit-detector’. Another lab-made laser device was used for measuring ball velocity. Three groups of subjects took part in the experiments : one group of 15 handball athletes, the best of League A1 scorers (age 24.86 ± 2.91 yrs), another group of 12 handball athletes, the best of League A2 scorers (age 26.84 ± 5.67 yrs) and a random sample of 15 physical education students (21.72 ± 0.89 yrs). Accuracy and ball velocity were examined in three types of throws: (a) on the spot, (b) with a cross-over step and (c) with a vertical jump. The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: In all three types of throws examined, there was a significant difference in accuracy among groups, attributed to the higher deviation from the target observed in the student group (on the spot: Fratio= 16.422, p £ 0.001; with a crossover step: Fratio= 22.493, p £ 0.001; with an a vertical jump: Fratio= 6.825, p £ 0.003) (Table 1). Table 1 Mean values (± SD) of deviation from the target (in cm) and of ball velocity (in m/s), in the three types of throws for the three groups of subjects. on the spot with a cross-over step with a vertical jump [table] With regard to throwing velocity, a significant difference among groups was found in all types of throws examined (on the spot: Fratio= 54.585, p £ 0.001; with a crossover step: Fratio= 33.578, p £ 0.001; with an a vertical jump: Fratio= 20.795, p £ 0.001), which was attributable to the fact that all three groups differed significantly from each other. In the throw with a vertical jump the difference between the two groups of athletes was less than that observed in the other two types of throw. This was probably due to the advanced technical skill required for performing this type of throw. CONCLUSIONS: The throwing performance of the three groups of subjects was assessed both by the level of accuracy and the magnitude of ball velocity in their throws. The performance of the best scores in the League A1 group significantly exceeded that of the other groups for the variables studied in the three types of throwing examined by the present study. REFERENCES: Schmidt, R. (1982). Motor Control and Learning. A Behavioral Emphasis, 336-350. Eliasz, J., Janiak, J., Wit, A. (1990). Sport Wyczynowy 9/10, 17-23. Hore, J., Watt, S., Martin, J., Miller, B. (1995). Exp. Brain Res. 103, 277-286

Influencia de la oposición en la velocidad de lanzamiento en jugadores de balonmano de élite, amateur y formación

El éxito del lanzamiento a portería en balonmano depende en gran medida de la velocidad del balón. Existen escasas evidencias sobre cómo afecta la toma de decisión y oposición en la velocidad del lanzamiento, sin embargo estas hacen presagiar cierta influencia. El presente estudio pretende analizar las diferencias en la velocidad de lanzamiento sin y con oposición. Para ello, ciento seis jugadores de élite internacional (E), amateur (A) y edades formativas (F) fueron evaluados en dos situaciones de velocidad de lanzamiento: sin oposición (VSO) y con oposición (VCO). El análisis de diferencias entre medias constató que la VCO fue inferior (5%; p menor que 0,01) a la VSO mientras que el análisis de la relación reveló valores de correlación medios entre la VSO y la VCO en E (r=0,597; p menor que 0,05) y A (r=0,598; p menor que 0,01) y bajos en F (r=0,378, p=0,01) Se confirma una influencia de la oposición y toma de decisión en la velocidad de lanzamiento, haciendo disminuir la misma. Existe una relación entre la velocidad de lanzamiento sin y con oposición positiva y significativa en los tres grupos analizados

General trends in European men's handball: a longitudinal study

The present study investigated in a longitudinal manner from seven consecutive competition years (2002-2003 through 2008-2009) the final results of men’s handball National Major League matches from seven European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Poland, Spain and Sweden). The results showed that there were significant differences between the countries with regards to the total number of goals scored per match. Nonetheless all the countries followed a consistent pattern of significant increase in the total number of goals scored per match, which over the years amounted to an increase of roughly five goals per match, from 52.9 to 57.9 goals, meaning an increase of 10%. The seven countries were heterogeneous also with regards to the percentage of close games i.e. of matches with a goal difference of two or less, as well as with regards to the outcome of the matches (home win, away win, and draw). The present findings provide experts in handball with valuable information regarding general trends in modern handball with regards to pace of the game, home advantage importance and the quantification of competitiveness based on the results of close games as well as specific differences between countries in Europe

A multivariate assessment of offensive performance indicators in Men’s Handball: Trends and differences in the World Championships

The purpose of the present study was to assess the relative importance of selected performance indicators in modern top-level handball through the analysis of offensive actions in three consecutive men’s world championships (2005, 2007 and 2009). A total of 288 matches were examined, which included 29,439 throw attempts resulting in 16,240 goals. The results demonstrated the strong relationship between the sixmeter and nine-meter offensive actions, as evidenced by their very high negative correlation coefficients in both the throw attempts and goals scored. The significant decrease of the throw attempts and goals scored from the six-meter position, evidenced in the 2007 and 2009 championships, is associated with the collateral significant increase of the nine-meter throws and goals. Interestingly, the nine-meter efficacy remained relatively constant throughout the three competition years, while the six-meter efficacy depicted a significant increase in competition years 2007 and 2009 compared to 2005, as a result of the appearance of highly qualified top ranking players in the pivot position. The high performance efficiency of these players resulted in adaptive defensive tactics to prevent the ball from reaching this key position. The present findings provide valuable information to handball coaches, in the design of their strategic and tactical plans. © 2011, Routledge. All rights reserved

Anaerobic capacity of the upper arms in top-level team handball players

Purpose: Handball is a sport with high anaerobic demands in lower body as has been indicated by Wingate test (WT) performed with the legs, but there are no data available concerning power production during a WT performed with the arms in handball players (HndP). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the arm anaerobic profile of HndP during a WT. Methods: Twenty-one elite HndP and 9 physical education students (CON), performed a 30-s arm. WT. Power production and muscle oxygenation were recorded. Results: Peak power (PP) as well as mean power (MP) was higher (P = .0.17 and 0.03, and ES = 1.00 and 0.86, respectively) for HndP (HndP PP: 7.6 ± 0.8 W·k·kg -1, CON PP: 6.7 ± 1.1 W·kg-1; HndP MP 5.3 ± 0.6 W·kg-1. CON MP 4.7 ± 0.9 W·kg -1) with no significant difference in fatigue index between the two groups. Muscle oxygen saturation (StO2) declined ∼30% with exercise with no differences between groups. During recovery the HndP group had higher StO2 (P = .01, ES= 3.04), total, hemoglobin and oxygenated, hemoglobin compared, with the CON group (P < .0.1 ES = 3.29 and 0.99, respectively). StO2 returned to resting values in 29.5 ± 2.3 s in HndP, whereas this variable did not recover after 2 min in CON. Conclusions: The arm anaerobic capacity of the HndP was "excellent," significantly higher than, that by the control group. Moreover, HndP exhibited faster recovery of StO2 compared with the control group. The greater power output and the fester muscle reoxygenation of arms in HndP can be attributed to specific training adaptations related to high, performance in handball. © 2008 Human Kinetics, Inc

AN INNOVATIVE DEVICE FOR MEASURING ACCURACY OF THROWING IN HANDBALL

A digital electronic device was constructed in order to measure the accuracy of throwing in handball. This innovative device consists of two parts: a) the central unit which generates visual stimuli and collects data and b) tabloids. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE SPECIFICATION: The device consists of three independent tabloids placed inside and connected to the handball goal post. The dimensions of the two vertical tabloids are 200x60x2cm, and those of the horizontal 180´60´2cm. The dimensions of the goal post are 300´200´8 cm, constituting a total surface of 60,000 cm2, of 38,400 cm2 are covered by the tabloids. A total of 2,130 holes were made in all three tabloids. The same number of light emitting diodes (LED) were placed on the back side of each tabloid in each hole so that they would be visible on the front side. The LED’s were placed in such a way as to form a net of squares (40´40mm). One of these squares, when lit up, determined the ‘target-point’ to be hit in a throw (shot). The net of LED’s was interwoven with metal strips (10mm wide and 1 mm thick) which lay at a distance of » 2mm from each other, forming another net of squares (40´40mm). These strips served as ‘hit-detectors’. When the ball hits a specific point on the metal strips, an electrical contact is produced which is transferred to the central unit, after having been processed by the multiplexer - demultiplexer. In this way the coordinates of the point hit by the ball are registered with very high accuracy (1mm). The biggest error in hit-detection (i.e., the largest distance from the strip) occurs in the case of the ball hitting the LEDs (20 mm ´ Ö 2 = 28.3 mm). This data collection system is based on the micro-processor INTEL 8085, which, in combination with the other regional units (serial communication port, LCD. display, ROM and RAM 32 Kbytes,) comprises the integrated control device (Fig 1). [Figure] Fig 1 Electronic configuration of visual stimuli generator and throwing data collection unit CONCLUSIONS: With the above described device it was possible to register the following: a) the coordinates of the lit up ‘target-point’ on the tabloid, visually displaying the beginning of the throwing attempt, b) the coordinates of the contact point on the tabloid hit by the ball, c) the duration of the contact with an accuracy of 5ms and d) the time elapsing from the visual stimulus until the contact of the ball with the tabloid. The implementation of this innovative device was carried out with measurements taken from athletes with various levels of handball playing ability

The height importance of male athletes for the classification in the world handball championships

Aim: The main purpose of the study was to investigate the height factor and player position concerning final team ranking in the three age categories, youths, juniors, and seniors. Height data were checked. Methods: Data was analyzed from 24 participating teams for seniors (n = 972, age = 27.3 ± 4.5), juniors (n = 622 age = 19.9 ± 1.0), and youths (1035 age = 18.8 ± 0.2) from official data from the selected last male World Handball Championships of 2013- 2019. For each participating player, his position was noted too: backs (left and right), pivot (line player), goalkeeper, back (center), and wings (left and right). The final team ranking was recorded and the 24 teams were divided into 3 ranking groups of 8 teams. Results: The ANOVA test proved that mean heights were significantly different between the three age groups (seniors: 190.04 ± 7.33, juniors: 187.28 ± 8.13, youths: 186.84 ± 7.55, F(2,3095) = 61.1 p < 0.001). Effect size 0.039. In all ranked groups and all categories, the heights of the players were significantly different between different player positions. The discrimination ability of height in all three categories and player positions represented an overall percentage of around 70% classifying the three 8-team ranking tiers. Conclusion: Height is a factor that differentiates high-level performance for both players' position and age categories. The practical results can help the national federations and coaches apply more effective strategies for player selection. © 2021 Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP. All rights reserved

Profile of young handball players by playing position and determinants of ball throwing velocity

This study defined the differences in physical qualities and anthropometric characteristics among playing positions in young male handball players, and investigated the relationship between ball throwing velocity and all measured parameters.182 young male handball players, aged 14.3yrs, with playing experience of 4.5yrs, were classified as: back players, centre backs, pivots, wing players, and goalkeepers. Body height, body mass, BMI, arm span, hand length, standing long jump, 30m sprint, flexibility, VO2max and throwing velocity were measured.Significant differences were detected among individual positions for all measured variables, except for flexibility. Backs were tallest, while pivots showed the largest arm span and hand length. Wings were shortest, with the lowest weight and BMI. Backs and wings performed best in the standing long jump, 30m sprint, flexibility and VO2max. Goalkeepers underperformed in all motor abilities. Ball velocity significantly correlated to all variables except for BMI and flexibility. Anthropometric and physical differences exist among different positions in young male handball players. These parameters influence ball velocity.The findings suggest that a high performance level requires advanced physical qualities as well as anthropometric features for these ages, and coaches should apply specific training programs for each playing position. © Editorial Committee of Journal of Human Kinetics