The aim of this study was to determine team offensive performance indicators during exclusions related to the final ranking obtained in the tournament. Twenty-nine matches from the 2017 Pan-American Female Championship played by 10 national teams were analyzed using observational methodology. Cramer’s V and Fisher’s exact test were applied to identify associations between the variables. The Chaid algorithm was used to identify performance variables during inequality situations associated with the final ranking. Results showed that teams ranked 1st to 3rd presented a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.001; ASR 5.2) of being in superiority, scoring on 56.8% of their finalizations, while teams ranked 7th to 10 th showed a tendency of ending their attacks in turnovers under inequality situations (p < 0.00; ASR 3.1). Playing with an empty net during inferiority situations was a predictor of winners belonging to the medalist teams in 76.2% of the analyzed situations. It can be concluded that during numerical superiority, the best-ranked teams better handled their possessions. The substitution of the goalkeeper for a court player during inferiority was a predictor of belonging to the medalist group. Playing with the goalkeeper in goal (playing 5 against 6) when the match status was balanced or unbalanced, was a predictor of losing teams that did not end up in the medalist groups.

This study aimed to analyse offensive performance during exclusions in an elite female handball tournament concerning the different numerical inequality contexts. All exclusions sanctioned (n = 319) during all matches from 2018 Female Euro (n = 47) were studied using an observational methodology. Teams´ performance variables were analysed via nominal regression test and correspondence analysis. Superiority, playing inferiority with Goalkeeper at goal (GK at goal), or Empty Net (EN) were the numerical contexts of players on the court studied. Results showed that teams tend to use 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^er waves; to end with shots and to use a 3:3 (2 pivots) offensive system when playing during superiority. Teams performing inferiority context tend to end with a shot (but not score) when playing GK at goal and in turnovers when playing EN. Teams using the EN strategy tend to receive counterattacks after finalising their attacks. It can be concluded that teams showed a tendency of increasing the use of playing with EN during inferiority contexts. The coaches’ decision of changing the GK for a court player during inferiority needs to be trained to reduce the turnovers, and then the counterattacks received as a consequence.

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of the IHF 2016 rule change on attack efficacy during the different numerical asymmetry scenarios associated with 2-minute suspensions at the Rio 2016 female OG. A total of 328 exclusion scenarios that were sanctioned during the 38 matches played at the Rio 2016 female handball tournament by 12 national teams were analysed using observational methodology. Chi-square test was applied to identify associations between the variables. Chi-square automatic interaction detection trees (CHAID) were used to identify which attacking performance variables during exclusions were associated with the different types of numerical asymmetry (superiority, inferiority with the goalkeeper at goal and inferiority with the empty net). Results during contexts of superiority showed that scoring in 58.0% of the total attacking finalizations (i.e. attack efficacy) (p<.001; ASR 8.2); playing fast transitions (p<.001; x2 = 17.692) and using a 2:4 (with two pivots) offensive system were predictors of the attacking performance of the teams. Substitution of the goalkeeper for a court player during inferiority context was a predictor for teams ranked 9 to 12 and also for those playing for medals (p<.001; x2=26.590) but receiving, as a consequence of their finalizations, a counterattack (p<.001; x2=112.107). Despite teams showing similar attacking performance during numerical superiority compared to previous studies, findings in this study revealed a tendency for empty nets during numerical inferiority context. Coaches should therefore consider training retreat’s strategies when playing without a goalkeeper when faced with a numerical disadvantage.

En balonmano el lanzamiento es la acción técnico-táctica de mayor relevancia. Por tanto, el análisis de la eficacia de lanzamiento es relevante, especialmente en el balonmano femenino de élite, donde el número de investigaciones es reducido. El objetivo fue analizar aspectos contextuales y gestuales de los lanzamientos de las selecciones medallistas y sus rivales en el balonmano femenino de los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio 2020. Se analizaron los 21 partidos disputados por las selecciones medallistas, registrándose 1940 lanzamientos. Se siguieron las pautas de la metodología observacional, creándose un instrumento “ad hoc”. Los principales resultados mostraron a la eficacia de los medallistas (64,9%) significativamente superior (p<0,001) a la de los rivales (56,5%) según las zonas del campo; siendo la zona de la pivote y central-lateral sin oposición la más usada por los medallistas. El lanzamiento con armado lateral primó en medallistas por sobre rivales (p<0,05). Se mantuvo superior durante todo el tiempo de juego (p<0,05) destacándose el período del minuto 20 al 30. Se concluye que los medallistas tendieron a lanzar en situaciones de una jugadora enfrentado solamente a la portera. La eficacia de los medallistas fue superior a lo largo del tiempo de juego, utilizando una mayor variabilidad de gestos.

En la última década, el número de estudios científicos del deporte en Uruguay basados en la metodología observacional ha aumentado significativamente. Un punto clave para garantizar la mayor rigurosidad en los procesos de investigación ha sido la exigencia de determinar la calidad del instrumento de observación y de la medida. Los conceptos de validez y fiabilidad son centrales en los procesos de elaboración del instrumento y durante la toma de datos. Por otra parte, la adecuada preparación de los observadores que utilizan el instrumento es decisiva para asegurar un correcto proceso de registro. Este trabajo tiene por objetivo realizar una revisión de las decisiones tomadas respecto a la calidad del dato a través de las investigaciones en deportes colectivos realizadas en Uruguay utilizando la metodología observacional en los últimos diez años.