This study presents morphologic characteristics of
37 elite Croatian female handball players. A set of 21
anthropometric measures was carried out on 12 wing
attack players, 6 pivots, 6 goalkeepers and 13 back court
players. Body fat percentage and BMI were also
calculated. ANOVA showed statistically significant
differences in variables of longitudinal skeletal
dimensions, body volume and body fat. Post hoc analysis
showed the most statistically significant differences in
aforementioned variables between goalkeepers and wing
attack players. Wing attack players are found to be with
the lowest height and weight values, whereas goalkeepers
are the tallest and the heaviest among all players according
to their game position. Differences between wing attack
players and back court players have been found in
variables of longitudinal skeletal dimensions, thigh
skinfold measures and upper leg and upper arm
circumference, latter being the only variable of difference
between wing attackers and pivot players.U ovom radu predstavljene su morfološke karakterisitke
37 vrhunskih hrvatskih rukometašica. Mjerenja su
provedena putem seta od 21 antropometrijske mjere na 12
krilnih igračica, 6 kružnih igračica (pivota), 6 golmanica i
13 vanjskih igračica. Postotak tjelesne masti i ITM
(Indeks tjelesne mase) također su izračunati. Univarijatna
analiza varijance (ANOVA) pokazala je statistički
značajne razlike u varijablama longitudinalne
dimenzionalnosti skeleta, volumenu tijela i tjelesnoj
masti. Post hoc analiza pokazala je najveće statistički
značajne razlike u prethodno navedenim varijablama
imeđu golmanica i krilnih igračica. Krilne igračice
opisuju najniže vrijednosti visine i mase tijela, za razliku
od golmanica koje opisuju najviše vrijednosti u visini i
masi tijela u usporedbi s ostalim igračicama i pozicijama u
igri. Statistički značajne razlike između krilnih igračica i
vanjskih igračica pronađene su u varijablama
longitudinalne dimenzionalnosti skeleta, bedrenom
kožnom naboru, te opsegu natkoljenice i nadlaktice.
Između krilnih igračica i pivota pronađene su statistički
značajne razlike u opsegu nadlaktice

Andrea Čižmek

Igor Gruić

Katarina Ohnjec

Vlatko Vučetić

English

HRČAK - Portal of Croatian Scientific and Professional Journals

SUMMARYThis study presents morphologic characteristics of37 elite Croatian female handball players. A set of 21anthropometric measures was carried out on 12 wingattack players, 6 pivots, 6 goalkeepers and 13 back courtplayers. Body fat percentage and BMI were alsocalculated. ANOVA showed statistically significantdifferences in variables of longitudinal skeletaldimensions, body volume and body fat. Post hoc analysisshowed the most statistically significant differences inaforementioned variables between goalkeepers and wingattack players. Wing attack players are found to be withthe lowest height and weight values, whereas goalkeepersare the tallest and the heaviest among all players accordingto their game position. Differences between wing attackplayers and back court players have been found invariables of longitudinal skeletal dimensions, thighskinfold measures and upper leg and upper armcircumference, latter being the only variable of differencebetween wing attackers and pivot players.female player, handball, morphologicalcharacteristics, playing positionKey words:SAŽETAKU ovom radu predstavljene su morfološke karakterisitke37 vrhunskih hrvatskih rukometašica. Mjerenja suprovedena putem seta od 21 antropometrijske mjere na 12krilnih igračica, 6 kružnih igračica (pivota), 6 golmanica i13 vanjskih igračica. Postotak tjelesne masti i ITM(Indeks tjelesne mase) također su izračunati. Univarijatnaanaliza varijance (ANOVA) pokazala je statističkiznačajne razlike u varijablama longitudinalnedimenzionalnosti skeleta, volumenu tijela i tjelesnojmasti. Post hoc analiza pokazala je najveće statističkiznačajne razlike u prethodno navedenim varijablamaimeđu golmanica i krilnih igračica. Krilne igračiceopisuju najniže vrijednosti visine i mase tijela, za razlikuod golmanica koje opisuju najviše vrijednosti u visini imasi tijela u usporedbi s ostalim igračicama i pozicijama uigri. Statistički značajne razlike između krilnih igračica ivanjskih igračica pronađene su u varijablamalongitudinalne dimenzionalnosti skeleta, bedrenomkožnom naboru, te opsegu natkoljenice i nadlaktice.Između krilnih igračica i pivota pronađene su statističkiznačajne razlike u opsegu nadlaktice.rukometašice, morfološke karakteristike,pozicije igračicaKljučne riječi:MORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES OF ELITE CROATIAN FEMALE HANDBALL PLAYERSACCORDING TO THEIR GAME POSITIONRAZLIKE U MORFOLOŠKIM KARAKTERISTIKAMA IZMEĐU VRHUNSKIH HRVATSKIH RUKOMETAŠICAOBZIROM NA IGRAČKU POZICIJUAndrea Čižmek, Katarina Ohnjec, Vlatko Vučetić, Igor GruićFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, CroatiaHrvat. Športskomed. Vjesn. 2010; 25: 122-127122INTRODUCTIONMATERIALSAND METHODSCompleting the sport success mosaic isunquestionably a present imperative for sport coaches,kinesiologists and sport scientists all over the globe.Having further information in any field of sport successenables coaches and athletes moving forward towardsbetter overall results. Morphological characteristics play ahighly important role when discussing sport success andresults. Morphological diagnostics in sport supplycoaches and sport/athlete managers with variousinformation concerning the present athlete (body statusand structure during different stages of trainingperiodization) and a potential athlete (inter and intra sportselection procedures). Morphological characteristics ofathletes in various sports have been an interest of study formany researchers, as well as morphologicaldifferences between playing positions in team sports suchas volleyball, basketball and football. Some researchof morphological differences has also been made betweenplaying positions in male handball.Handball is described as an arduous body contactteam sport, comprised of distinctive explosive movementpatterns (forward, backward, and side to side shuffles),different intensity runs and various activities of jumpingand throwing with the interactive requirements to hit, pushand hold during the game. According to someinvestigations a handball player during one game does485 different high intensity movements on average, out ofwhich 190 rhythm changes, 279 directions changes and 16jumps.Being a complex team sport, handball differentiatesfour main playing positions: goalkeeper (defence), backcourt player, wing attack player and circle runner player orpivot (offense). Each playing position has specifictechnical and tactical demands, which are consequentialto field zones and phases of the game. Differencesbetween positions have been found in crossed distances ina single male handball game. Also, differences betweenfemale handball players according to playing positionhave been confirmed in a study (in motor abilities andpsychological characteristics) where wing attackerspredominated in speed strength, agility, movementfrequency and were covering the largest field area.Adversely, goalkeepers had poorer results in all motorabilities, except for flexibility.Considering the above-mentioned, hypothesis wasmade assuming the existence of differences inmorphological characteristics between playing positionsin female handball. Having insufficient published femalehandball morphological data, a research was conductedwith the purpose of thorough analysis of theanthropometric characteristics of the high quality femaleplayers in relation to their basic playing position.The sample included 37 elite female handball playersall members of first league clubs in Croatia or national11,12,173,9,10,132,7,155,6,8414116representatives. There were 12 wing attackers, 13 backcourt players, 6 pivots, and 6 goalkeepers. Average age ofall subject was 24,49± 4,14 years.The study was approved by the Ethics Committee ofthe Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Croatia.The players were fully informed of all the experimentalprocedures prior to giving their written consent ofparticipation.According to the instructions of the InternationalBiological Program the following anthropologicalmeasures were taken: body height, body mass, arm span,leg length, arm length, shoulder width, knee diameter,elbow diameter, skinfolds of back, upperarm, thigh, chest,shank, suprailiocristal and abdomen and circumference ofupper arm (extended and flexed), forearm, upperleg,lower leg and abdomen. The percentage of body fat (bodyfat %) in female handball players was determined byJackson and Pollock anthropometric method.The statistical package Statistica for Windows 7.0was used for statistical analysis. Basic descriptiveparameters of anthropologic variables were calculated:mean (X), standard deviation (SD), minimum andmaximum value of the results registered (MIN,MAX).The normality of distribution was tested withKolmogorov Smirnov test (MaxD). The differencesbetween team positions (wing attackers, back courtplayers, pivots and goalkeepers) were analyzed byanalysis of variance (ANOVA). The statisticalsignificance was set at p<0,05.Values presented in Table 1. show descriptiveparameters of all (n=37) female handball players inmeasured morphological variables, and distinctively forevery game position.The results shown indicate goalkeepers as the tallestand the heaviest players in the team. Consequently,goalkeepers have the widest arm span together with lengthmeasures of the extremities. Moreover, higher values inback, upper arm, thigh, chest and abdomen skinfoldstogether with upperarm, forearm, upper leg and abdomencircumferences indicate specific morphology connectedwith the goalkeeper's play demands. Goalkeepers'movement patterns include covering short distances(between goal bars and inside goalkeeper's field area),together with explosive situational reactions on the ball(while defending the goal) and when throwing the ball inthe game (while initiating counterattack or a „fastcentre“). Compared to other playing positions,goalkeepers have different and decreased functionaldemands (specific endurance) because of their fairly lowattack phase participation.Statistically significant differences between gamepositions have been found in variables of longitudinalskeletal dimensions (shown in Figure 1-4), body fat(shown in Figure 5-7) and body volume (shown in Figure8-9).RESULTSAND DISCUSSIONČižmek A, Ohnjec K, Vučetić V, Gruić I. Morphological Differences of Elite Croatian Female Handball Players According to Their Game Position123Čižmek A, Ohnjec K, Vučetić V, Gruić I. Morphological Differences of Elite Croatian Female Handball Players According to Their Game Position124Figure 1-4. Differences among playing position in variables of longitudinal dimensionalitySlika 1-4.Razlike prema poziciji u igri u varijablama longitudinalne dimenzionalnostiFigure 5-7. Differences among playing position in variables of body volumeSlika 5-7. Razlike prema poziciji u igri u varijablama volumena tijelaCurent effect F(3, 33)=7,1260, p=,00081Vertical bars denote 0,95 confidence intervalswing164166168170172174176178180182184186188Positionpivot back goalBody height (cm)Curent effect F(3, 33)=5,7457, p=,00281Vertical bars denote 0,95 confidence intervalswing164166168170172174176178180182184186188Positionpivot back goalAm span (cm)Curent effect F(3, 33)=8,0241, p=,00037Vertical bars denote 0,95 confidence intervalswing70717273747576777879808182Positionpivot back goalAm lenght (cm)Curent effect F(3, 33)=7,58 9, p=,00054Vertical bars denote 0,95 confidence intervals4wing9092949698100102104106108110112114Positionpivot back goalLeg lenght (cm)Curent effect F(3, 33)=4,8353, p=,00674Vertical bars denote 0,95 confidence intervalswing252627282930313233Positionpivot back goalCirc. upperarm ext. (cm)Curent effect F(3, 31)=6,3204, p=,00180Vertical bars denote 0,95 confidence intervalswing525456586062646668Positionpivot back goalCirc. upperleg (cm)Curent effect F(3, 33)=8,0241, p=,00037Vertical bars denote 0,95 confidence intervalswing72747678808284868890929496Positionpivot back goalAm lenght (cm)Čižmek A, Ohnjec K, Vučetić V, Gruić I. Morphological Differences of Elite Croatian Female Handball Players According to Their Game Position125Curent effect F(3, 33)=4,4735, p=,00060Vertical bars denote 0,95 confidence intervalswing556065707580859095Positionpivot back goalBody mass. (kg)Curent effect F(3, 31)=4,4489, p=,00988Vertical bars denote 0,95 confidence intervalswing121416182022242628Positionpivot back goalBody fat %Curent effect F(3, 33)=1,7298, p=,17997Vertical bars denote 0,95 confidence intervalswing20,020,521,021,522,022,523,023,524,024,525,025,526,0Positionpivot back goalBMIFigure 8-10. Differences among playing positions in variables of body mass, body fat and BMI.Slika 8-10. Razlike prema poziciji u igri u varijablama tjelesne mase, postotka tjelesne masti i ITM.The significant difference between positions (wingand goalkeeper game position) was found in the leg(p<0,1) and arm length measures (p<0,1). Aforesaidindicates importance of longitudinal dimensionality ofgoalkeepers since it facilitates more efficient coverage ofthe goal area. Wing attackers usually perform their shootsat the goal aside the opponent's blocks, having no specificneeds in arm length for shoot execution, although longerupper extremities enable broadening shooting angle.Wing attack players are found to be with the lowest valuesin body height, hence the lighter weight and lower valuesin all body measures except for the upper arm skinfold.Considering specific game demands according to theposition of play, wing attack players require swift andfrequent movements from the defence to attack phase ofplay, also very frequently participating in counterattacksor preventing ones. The abovementioned indicates thatwing attack players cover the largest area of play, forwhich very high amount of speed strength is needed  .Generally, smaller and lighter players are more efficient inquick movement changes, fine performance and sprintswhich are characteristical elements of wing attack players.Thorough post hoc analysis showed statisticallysignificant differences between wing attack players andback court players in variables of longitudinal skeletaldimension (body height, body weight, arm span, armlength and leg length, all p<0,01), upper arm (p<0,5) andupper leg circumference (p 0,01) and thigh skinfold(p<0,5). Position of a back court attacker is found to be the14≤most complex one in the game of handball from thekinesiological aspect. Back court attackers are in chargeof game organisation and players coordination, hence atall figure enables also better visual game control. Theyhave the longest periods of ball possession and theiroffense performance is mainly described by powerfulover and through opponents' defence wall shooting  .Therefore, significant body height and consequentlylarger qualitative body mass are very important formatching desirable game demands.The only significant difference between wing attackplayers and pivots appeared in the variable of upper armcircumference (p<0,5), although a certain tendencyappears in the variable of body mass as well (p 0,08).Circle runner player or a pivot has a specific offence gameposition, being the only mainly back faced or side facedoffence player in the team. As an offence line player, apivot either tries to find a good line position for oneselftackling and resisting opponents defence, or makes somespace for other teammates on their way to score the goal.Hence, immense amount of static power and a stablestance are needed. Considerably larger body mass of apivot player allows and provides easier line duels andmore efficient balance support.No statistically significant differences have beenfound between pivot positions and back court players. Apossible explanation for this could lie in today's expandedplay demands of both pivot players and back courtattackers. Realization and blocking functions aside,1414≈Čižmek A, Ohnjec K, Vučetić V, Gruić I. Morphological Differences of Elite Croatian Female Handball Players According to Their Game Position126today's pivot player contributes and participates more inball distribution towards back court and wing attackplayers during attack and shot realization as well as beinga ground base of „fast center“. On the other hand,different attack strategies of back court players include alot of position shuffles for all three back court attackers,and also on a pivot position. No statistically significantdifferences have been found between pivots andgoalkeepers. Furthermore, no statistically significantdifferences have been found between back court playersand goalkeepers.Results of this study confirmed statisticallysignificant existence of morphological differencesbetween female handball players according to their gameposition. The most significant differences have beenfound among wing attack players and goal keepers invariables of longitudinal skeletal dimensions, bodyvolume and body fat. Differences between wing attackplayers and back court players have been found in18CONCLUSIONvariables of longitudinal skeletal dimensions, thighskinfold measures and upperleg and upper armcircumference, latter being the only variable of differencebetween wing attackers and pivot players.Handball differentiates four main game positions,each having specific requirements which dictate types andstructures of movements performed by players. Wingattack players are considered to be the ones covering thebiggest field area and performing most of thecounterattacks, therefore in need of lighter, swift bodieswith the ability of fast movement changes and agility. Onthe other hand goalkeepers have, due to the function ofsaving the goal, more static role in the game, therefore inneed to have considerably elongated and flexibleextremities. This study confirmed wing attack players tobe with the lowest height and weight values, whereasgoalkeepers the tallest and the heaviest. Position specificsof the back court players propose tall and strong playerswho are required to perform different tactical and gameassignments towards opponent's defence zones, whilepivots have relatively large body mass with respectivelyhigher values in upper extremities.Čižmek A, Ohnjec K, Vučetić V, Gruić I. Morphological Differences of Elite Croatian Female Handball Players According to Their Game PositionRefferences1. Bon M, Šibila M, Pereš J, Kovačič, S. Analizagibanja igralca med tekmo. Ljubljana: Fakultet zašport, Institut za šport, 2002.2. Chaouachi A, Brughelli M, Levin G, Boudhina NB,Cronin J, Chamari K.Anthropometric, physiologicaland performance characteristics of elite team-handball players. J of Sport Sci, 2009; 27: 151-157.3. Erčulj F, Blas M, Čoh M, Bračić M. Differences inmotor abilities of various types of European youngelite female basketball players. Kinesiology 2009;41 2:203-211.4. Garcia, C. Specifična fizička priprema s naglaskomna izdržljivost. In: Proceedings of 25 handballcoaches semminare, Pula, Croatia, Hrvatskirukometni savez, 2001; 17-25.M. Effects of an entire season onphysical fitness changes in elite male handballplayers. Med Sci Sports Exerc., 2006; 382: 357-366.6. Granados C, Izquierdo M, Ibanez J, Bonnabau H,Gorostiaga EM. Differences in Physical Fitness andThrowing Velocity Among Elite and AmateurFemale Handball Players. Int J Sports Med 2007; 28:850-867.7. Hasan AAA, Rahaman JA, Cable NT, Reilly T.Anthropometric Profile of elite male HandballPlayers inAsia. Biology of Sport, 2007; 24: 3-12.8. Kalinski MI, Norkowski H, Kerner MS, TkaczukWG. Anaerobic power characteristics of eliteathletes in national level team-sport games.European Journal of Sport Science, 2002; 2: 1-21.9. Marelić N, Đurković T, Rešetar T. Differences infitness level and morphological characteristicsbetween female volleyball players of different teamstatus. HŠMV 2008; 23: 30-34.th5. Gorostiaga E, Granados C, Ibáñez J, González-Badillo J, Izquierdo10. Matković BR, Mišigoj-Duraković M, Matković B,Janković S, Ružić L, Leko G, Kondrič M.Morphological Differences of Elite Croatian SoccerPlayers According to the Team Position. Coll.Antropol. 2003; 27 Suppl. 1 167-174.11. Mikulić P, Vučetić V, Matković BR, Oreb G.Morphological characteristics and somatotype ofelite Croatian rowers. HŠMV 2005; 20: 15-19.12. Mišigoj-Duraković M, Vučetić V, Duraković Z,Wolf-Cvitak J, Matković BR., Ćorović N, BonevskiA. Body Physique and composition in youngpremenarcheal ballerinas and female athletes inaesthetic sports. Medical Problems of PerformingArtists, 2005; 20: 75-179.13. Sporiš G, Čanaki M, Barišić V. MorphologicalDifferences of Elite Croatian Female Soccer PlayersAccording to the Team Position. HŠMV 2007; 22:91-96.14. Srhoj V, Marinović M, Rogulj N. Characteristics ofmale Handball players. Coll Antropol. 2002; 26:219-227.15. Šibila M, and Pori P. Morphological Characteristicsof handball players. Coll Antopol. 2009; 33: 1079-1086.16. Rogulj N, Srhoj V, Nazor M, Srhoj Lj, Čavala M.Anthropologic Variation in Handball According toPosition. CollAntropol. 2005; 29 : 705-709.17. Vučetić V, Matković BR, Šentija D. MorphologicalDifferences of Elite Croatian Track-And-FieldAthletes. Coll.Antropol, 2008; 32 : 315-320.18. Vuleta D, Gruić I, Milanović D. Mjerenje ivrednovanje funkcionalnih sposobnosti vrhunskihrukometaša i rukometašica u pripremnom periodu,In: Kondicijska priprema sportaša, Zagreb,Kineziološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 2009;327-331.127

RAZLIKE U MORFOLOŠKIM KARAKTERISTIKAMA IZMEĐU VRHUNSKIH HRVATSKIH RUKOMETAŠICA OBZIROM NA IGRAČKU POZICIJU

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

HRČAK - Portal of Croatian Scientific and Professional Journals

Hrčak - Portal of scientific journals of Croatia