High-Performance Handball Player’s Time-Motion Analysis by Playing Positions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the on-court demands of handball players during the European Handball Federation Champions League Final Four (VELUX EHF FINAL4) 2019 to define time–motion characteristics (played time; covered distances) both in offense and defense. Furthermore; we aimed to define position-specific demands and differences among them. Forty players from three teams were analyzed during the tournament using a local positioning system (LPS) for the first time in top handball. Players covered similar distances both in offense (1388.28 ± 2627.08 m), and in defense (1305.47 ± 5059.64 m) and remained on court for a similar average time (15.69 ± 8.02 min and 15.40 ± 8.94 min respectively). When locomotion activities were normalized according to the time they spent on court; significant differences were found for defense compared to offense in walking (+20%; p < 0.000; Cohen’s effect size (ES) = 1.01) and jogging (−29.6%; p = 0.000; ES = 0.90), as well as a tendency for high-intensity running (+ 25.2%; p = 0.077; ES = 0.31). Per playing position; center and left back (CB = 94.86 ± 10.98 m·min−1; LB = 96.55 ± 24.65 m·min−1) showed the highest running pace in offense and mid-left; front center defender and outside right for the defense (ML = 90.38 ± 30.16 m·min−1; FCD = 87.04 ± 14.94 m·min−1; OR = 89.64 ± 34.93 m·min−1). In conclusion; profile differences existed among players’ position activity; both in offense and defense; which should be taken into account when designing specific physical training programs

Time–Motion Analysis by Playing Positions of Male Handball Players during the European Championship 2020

“…The differences between the different playing positions in regards to playing time, distances covered, and running pace were determined by variance analysis one-way ANOVA, followed by Games–Howell post hoc testing, appropriate when there is a lack of homogeneity of variances. In order to determine the magnitude of each relationship, Cohen’s effect size (ES) was used with a modified classification (trivial <0.2, small 0.21–0.6, moderate 0.61–1.2, large 1.21–1.99, and very large >2.0) proposed for sports sciences [ 22 ] and used in other similar handball studies [ 13 , 21 ]. The alpha level of significance was set at p < 0.05.…”

“…In order to overcome this inconvenience, the European Handball Federation (EHF), Select ® and Kinexon ® jointly developed the Kinexon ® tracking system for handball players (Kinexon: München, Germany; Select Sport. Glostrup, Denmark) in addition to a monitored ball, the iball, which has been recently validated [ 10 , 11 , 12 ] and used in studies on handball [ 11 , 13 ] and other team sports [ 14 ]. This technology provides us with values regarding movements, accelerations, changes of direction, jumps, as well as data on the speed at which the ball is transferred (game speed) and the speed and position of the throws in real time, opening up new possibilities in the study of handball competition requirements [ 11 ].…”

“…Previous time–motion studies carried out in different kinds of competitions, found differences between playing positions regarding the total distance covered and the distance covered at different locomotion categories [ 7 , 8 , 13 , 15 ]. Nevertheless, no studies so far have investigated in detail the activity profile of elite male handball throughout all matches of an European Championship for different playing positions.…”

Validation of Player and Ball Tracking with a Local Positioning System

“…Positional data are used for monitoring players’ training loads [ 1 , 2 ], activity profiles [ 3 ] or tactical performance analysis [ 4 , 5 ]. Additionally, positional information about the ball can be used for further analysis, such as the integration of ball possession [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Kinexon’s LPS is a widespread and commercially available system in the segment of sports tracking. This system is used in the first division of the German handball national league and also the Velux EHF Final4 to record matches since the 2019/2020 season [ 7 ]. A recent study from Fleureau et al looked at the validity of peak speed and acceleration of Kinexon’s LPS in handball specific movements [ 24 ].…”