Throwing speed in team handball: a systematic review

29 p.Its undeniable that throwing speed is one of the most important actions during handball match so it is really important for trainers improve their knowledge about it. Thus, the aim of the article is threefold: a) to review the scientific studies about the factors that determine throwing speed in team handball to be able to establish the importance of each one b) to summarize the scientific knowledge about throwing speed in handball including aspects that need more studies c) To suggest practical recommendations for handball coaches. Our review revealed that; a) Players with greater elbow angles and higher elbow displacement angles at the release of the ball throw faster b) Hand size, biacromial breadth and finger length are the main anthropometric factors related to throwing speed c) handball players are able to reach a high throwing speeds without lose accuracy, so they should carry out their throwing speed training sessions always at high speed d) There many different training proposals but with most of them throwing speed is improved. It is necessary to analyse the tactical-technical and conditional work related with throwing speed. e) There are very few studies made in real competition

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

10 p.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 situation

Predicting playing status in professional water polo players: analysis by gender

22 p.The aim of this study was twofold: firstly, to identify the characteristics of water polo players that discriminate between women and men based on specific playing positions; and secondly to develop a predicting model to identify the characteristics that are best suited to a given playing position based on gender. METHODS: The study included 130 professional water polo players. Anthropometric characteristics and throwing velocity were analyzed in different situations: no defender or goalkeeper, goalkeeper only and the . players made three rapid arm movements and then threw the ball at maximum speed without further feinting with goalkeeper. Measured variables were compared according to gender and player position using discriminant analysis. RESULTS: The predictive model accurately classifies 71.1% of the male players using three variables (arm span. muscle mass Lee and penalty without goalkeeper), and 64.7% of the female players using three variables (triceps skinfold, biceps skinfold and anteroposterior chest breadth). CONCLUSIONS: The anthropomctric characteristics and throwing velocity play an important role in identifying the different specific positions in male and female water polo players. In female players, the variables that were determinant in the predictive model, were those associated with body composition.MINEC

A training proposal to improve multidirectional running technique in male and female handball players: A pilot study

Multidirectional running has been described as an important factor in team sports performance. The aim of the present study was to determine changes in T-test, 505 time, 10 m sprint, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), countermovement jump right leg (CMJRL), and countermovement jump left leg (CMJLL) following exposure to 12 sessions over 4 weeks of a multidirectional running sprint training intervention in male and female handball players. A total of 31 handball players (15 male and 16 female) were recruited for this study and then randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG) or control group (CG). Male EG players showed improvements in 505 Preferred Side (PS) (p = 0.05) or between male and female players. We found an improvement in handball players' agility and speed of movement following the intervention protocol, suggesting the need to introduce this program into our training sessions. It may also be necessary to select and develop more specific tests in order to evaluate multidirectional work in handball players

The most common handball injuries: A Systematic Review

Handball is a team sport involving a great physical demand from its practitioners in which a high number of injuries occur, affecting individual and collective performance. Knowledge of the injuries is of great importance for their prevention. The objective of the present study was to identify, locate and compare the most frequent injuries and injury mechanisms in handball practice. It was carried out following the Preferred Informed Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The source of data collection was direct consultation of the PubMed and Medline databases. Several keywords were used for the documentary retrieval, and the quality of the studies that were selected was evaluated. Of the 707 studies retrieved, only 27 were considered appropriate for the review, and quality scores were obtained that ranged from 10 to 26 points, out of a maximum of 28. The most frequent injuries in handball players are located in the lower limbs (thigh, knee and ankle), and in the shoulder in the upper limbs. Regarding the playing position, the players who play over the 6-m line are the most affected by injuries, while the women players have a higher probability of injury. Most injuries occur during competition

Effect of acute sodium bicarbonate and caffeine co-ingestion on repeated sprint performance in recreationally trained individuals: a randomized controlled trial

24 p.Introduction: The acute and isolated ingestion of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and caffeine (CAF) improves performance and delays fatigue in high-intensity tasks. However, it remains to be elucidated if the coingestion of both dietary supplements stimulates a summative ergogenic effect. This study aimed to examine the effect of the acute coingestion of NaHCO3 and CAF on repeated-sprint performance. Methods: Twenty-five trained participants (age: 23.3 [4.0] y; sex [female/male]: 12/13; body mass: 69.6 [12.5] kg) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo (PLA) -controlled, crossover study. Participants were assigned to 4 conditions: (1) NaHCO3 + CAF, (2) NaHCO3, (3) CAF, or (4) PLA. Thus, they ingested 0.3 g/kg of NaHCO3, 3 mg/kg of CAF, or PLA. Then, participants performed 4 Wingate tests (Wt), consisting of a 30-second all-out sprint against an individualized resisted load, interspersed by a 1.5-minute rest period between sprints. Results: Peak (Wpeak) and mean (Wmean) power output revealed a supplement and sprint interaction effect (P = .009 and P = .049, respectively). Compared with PLA, NaHCO3 + CAF and NaHCO3 increased Wpeak performance in Wt 3 (3%, P = .021) and Wt 4 (4.5%, P = .047), while NaHCO3 supplementation increased mean power performance in Wt 3 (4.2%, P = .001). In Wt 1, CAF increased Wpeak (3.2%, P = .054) and reduced time to Wpeak (-8.5%; P = .008). Plasma lactate showed a supplement plus sprint interaction (P < .001) when NaHCO3 was compared with CAF (13%, P = .031) and PLA (23%, P = .021). Conclusion: To summarize, although the isolated ingestion of CAF and NaHCO3 improved repeated-sprint performance, the coingestion of both supplements did not stimulate a synergic ergogenic effect

The role of exercise training on low-grade systemic inflammation in adults with overweight and obesity: a systematic review

Low-grade systemic inflammation leads to critical alterations of several tissues and organs that can promote the appearance of non-communicable diseases, a risk that is increased in adults with obesity. Exercise training may counteract low-grade systemic inflammation, but there is a lack of consensus on how cytokines are modulated by training in adults with obesity. This study aimed of examining the effects of exercise training on circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in adults with overweight and obesity, and whether exercise-induced fat mass reduction could mediate that effect. The search was conducted on Medline (Pubmed), SPORTDiscus and Web of Science databases from January 1998 to August 2021, using keywords pertaining to inflammation, exercise, and obesity. A total of 27 studies were selected, in which the circulating concentration levels of cytokines were analyzed. Endurance training (ET) decreased circulating CRP, IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels. TNF-alpha was reduced after resistance and concurrent training (CT), while IL-10 increased after resistance training (RT). Changes in IL-10 and CRP coincided with fat mass reduction, while decreased TNF-alpha levels were concomitant with changes in IL-6 and IL-10. Exercise training may reduce systemic low-grade inflammation profile in adults with overweight and obesity

Difference of the speed of handball throwing during the competition in relation to efficiency: analysis between the first and the second half

10 p.Throwing in handball is the most decisive action in success or failure in the offensive phases of the game. In order to study and analyse this, it is necessary to measure the throwing speed during the competition. This research aimed to achieve two objectives; the first one, to compare the average throwing speed between the first and the second half of the organized offensive phase during the 2013 Mens World Handball Championship. The second, to describe the throwing speed between the first and the second half during the 2013 Mens World Handball Championship with respect to its effectiveness (a goal/not a goal). Throwing speeds were registered in 47 matches in the 2013 World Handball Championship using a radar (StalkerPro S.A., Plano), with a frequency of 100 Hz and a sensitivity of 0.045 m/sec-1, fixed on a tripod behind the goal. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software (version 22). The Kolgomorov-Smirnov test was used to check normality and homogeneity. The results show non-parametric variables. Subsequently, the variables were analysed with the Mann-Whitney U-test. Statistically significant differences were not found in the average throwing speed between the first and the second half of the matches of the World Championship, nor in its throwing effectiveness. These results show that fatigue is not a variable that influences the throwing speeds along a handball match nor the precision/effectiveness in elite male handball

Analysis of the throwing speed in the different positions in the field during the competition.

10 p.The studies that analyse the throwing speed in the different positions on the field in high-performance handball are scarce. These contributions are nonexistent if the analysis refers to the throwing speed during the competition. For this reason, the objective of this research was to analyse the throwing speed in the central positions during the matches at the 23rd Mens World Handball Championship. Three thousand two hundred and forty-two throws in the matches of this championship were analysed. The throwing positions tested were the left back, the centre back and the right back. A radar (StalkerPro S.A., Plano), with a frequency of 100 Hz and a sensitivity of 0.045 m/s1, fixed on a tripod behind the goal, was used. Analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 22). The variables were analysed with the Mann-Whitney U-test. Statistically significant differences were not found among all the throws carried out by the participating teams in the championship. There are statistically significant differences in the throwing speed between the best 8 teams with respect to the other 8 teams of the championship in the central position in the first half of the match (p>0,05), both for the total number of throws and the effectiveness (goal/not a goal). The best teams obtain higher throwing speed in the central position, but there is no difference in relation to effectiveness. Players may increase the throwing speed in the central position due to the concentration of a higher number of players in that area

Effect of opposition and effectiveness of throwing from first and second line in male elite handball during competition

The goalkeeper and defensive player’s degree of opposition could influence throwing velocity and thereby success of scoring goals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of opposition and contact on throwing velocity and effectiveness in elite team handball players from first and second offensive lines. Throwing velocity from 2893 throws carried out in 47 matches during the Men’s World Handball Championship were analysed. A higher throwing velocity was obtained with opposition and no contact situations. In the comparison between the first and second offensive line players, the same results were obtained in relation to the higher throw speed. Significant relationships were found between the attack effectiveness and the type of opposition and contact. Throws carried out with no opposition either with or without contact are those that more likely end in a goal, while opposition without and with contact decreases the effectiveness in scoring goals. Concerning playing positions, both first and second line showed this significant relationship between attack effectiveness and the type of opposition and contact. It was concluded that opposition and defensive contact have a negative and significant effect on the scoring efficacy. Defensive contact is a determining factor causing a significant decrease on throwing velocity