On-Court Demands of Elite Handball, with Special Reference to Playing Positions

Abstract

The aim of this review is to provide the first comprehensive analysis of the various technical and physical on-court demands in elite male handball with respect to playing positions. While low-intensity activities such as standing still and walking represent the greater proportion of playing time (up to ~70 %), handball can be considered an intense activity for all players, especially because of the large number of repeated high-intensity actions occurring throughout the game (e.g., jumps, sprints, changes of direction, duels, contacts). Additionally, the substantial number of body contacts likely increases neuromuscular load, both during and following games. However, the average running pace (53 ± 7 to 90 ± 9 m·min(-1)) during handball games tends to be lower than in the majority of other team sports, while blood lactate and heart rate responses tend to be similar and slightly lower, respectively. Behind these team-average data, the substantial variations in technical and physiological demands between the different positions have been overlooked in the literature. Whether physical fatigue actually occurs during games is still unclear since, in the majority of studies, games were not examined under actual competitive situations. We contend that, in practice, appropriate player rotations may allow players to maintain an optimal physical performance level or, at least, limit a possible drop in physical/playing efficiency. Future research should essentially focus on the technical and physiological responses during games in relation to specific collective systems of play and individual playing roles. The occurrence of player position-specific fatigue should also be better examined when considering individual playing time and rotation strategies.

Effects of a high-intensity interval training protocol based on functional exercises on performance and body composition in handball female players

“…Optimal performances in handball requires a high amount of explosive actions such as sprints, jumps and changes in direction during the game (Karcher & Buchheit, 2014). In our study, no significant differences have been found regarding variables involved in CMJ, in line with results obtained by Buchheit et al (2009) with young handball players, in which CMJ did not either develop after HIIT.…”

“…These are considered to be the most significant actions to develop high performance (Bilge, 2013;Michalsik et al, 2013;Karcher & Buchheit, 2014;Iacono et al, 2015b). In their study on professional handball players, Povoas et al (2012) showed how athletes performed very short 825 actions (2-6 seconds) in a 73-minute game, investing a lot of energy in acceleration and deceleration.…”

Heart rate and lactate response of junior handball players (Under 18) during competitive match play

“…Average running speed during handball game is lower than most other team games, including football. However, a relatively higher lactate concentration likely results from frequent jump, throw, and more body contact than many others [12]. The La values were also higher than most of the court games like basketball [13] or volleyball [14].…”

Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics and Physical Capacities Between Junior and Adult Top-Level Handball Players

“…Thereby, the external load is characterized by a total distance covered of 2.8 -4.4 km (3,4), mean velocity of 53 -90 m/min (3,5), sprinting distance of 78 -107 m (3,6), and peak velocity of 20 -25 km/h (2), whereas the internal demand is considered by a mean heart rate of 82% -83% (2, 3), peak lactate concentration of 3.7 -9.7 mmol/L (7,8), and fluid loss of 2.0 -2.1 L (3,8). Notably, all match play activities as well as external loads and internal demands differ not only according to playing positions (9), but also to offensive and defensive playing phases and tactical formations (1). 4).…”