The objective of this study was to provide anthropometric, physiological, and performance characteristics of an elite international handball team. Twenty-one elite handball players were tested and categorized according to their playing positions (goalkeepers, backs, pivots, and wings). Testing consisted of anthropometric and physiological measures of height, body mass, percentage body fat and endurance (VO(2max)), performance measures of speed (5, 10, and 30 m), strength (bench press and squat), unilateral and bilateral horizontal jumping ability, and a 5-jump horizontal test. Significant differences were found between player positions for some anthropometric characteristics (height and percentage body fat) but not for the physiological or performance characteristics. Strong correlations were noted between single leg horizontal jumping distances with 5-, 10-, and 30-m sprint times (r = 0.51-0.80; P < 0.01). The best predictors of sprint times were single leg horizontal jumping with the dominant leg and the distance measured for the 5-jump test, which when combined accounted for 72% of the common variance associated with sprint ability. In conclusion, performance abilities between positions in elite team-handball players appear to be very similar. Single leg horizontal jumping distance could be a specific standardized test for predicting sprinting ability in elite handball players.

Aim: Very few studies have investigated the temporal specificity of melatonin (MEL) ingestion upon short-term maximal athletic performances. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of morning MEL ingestion on cognitive and physical performances measured in the afternoon. Methods: Twelve soccer players from a Tunisian squad (17.9 ± 1.3 years, 1.74 ± 0.06 m and 62.0 ± 8.8 kg) participated in the present study. They performed two testing sessions at 08:00 h, 12:00 h and 16:00 h after either MEL (5mg) or placebo (PLA) ingestion, in a randomized order. During each period, the participants performed the following cognitive and physical tests: reaction time and vigilance tests, medicine-ball throw (MBT), five jumps, handgrip strength (HG), and agility tests. Results: cognitive and physical performances were significantly higher at 16:00 h compared to 08:00 h during the two conditions (p < 0.05). Moreover, performances of MBT and HG were lower in the morning with MEL in comparison to PLA (p < 0.05). However, MEL ingestion did not affect physical and cognitive performances measured at 12:00 h and 16:00 h. Conclusion: morning MEL ingestion has no unfavourable effect on afternoon physical and cognitive performances in soccer players.

No study has examined whether nocturnal melatonin ingestion affects short-term maximal athletic performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nocturnal melatonin ingestion on upper and lower body anaerobic performances. Twelve professional soccer players from a Tunisian league two squad (age: 22.9 ± 1.3yrs; height: 1.8 ± 0.05 m, and body mass 72.0 ± 8.8 kg) performed three testing sessions at 21:00 h (two melatonin sessions, 5 mg or 8 mg, and one placebo session) in a double-blind, counterbalanced protocol. During each session, 30 min after melatonin or placebo ingestion, subjects performed the following tests: the squat jump, the countermovement jump, the medicine-ball throw, the five jumps, the grip strength, and agility tests. In all tests, the results showed no difference between placebo and 5 mg melatonin ingestion (p < 0.05). However, short-term maximal performances were lower after 8 mg melatonin ingestion in comparison with the placebo ingestion (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although 8 mg of melatonin has an adverse effect on physical capacities, 5 mg of melatonin ingestion does not affect short-term maximal performance.

No abstract