Ortega-Becerra, M, Pareja-Blanco, F, Jiménez-Reyes, P, Cuadrado-Peñafiel, V, and González-Badillo, JJ. Determinant factors of physical performance and specific throwing in handball players of different ages. J Strength Cond Res 32(6): 1778–1786, 2018—This study aimed to analyze various fitness qualities in handball players of different ages and to determine the relationships between these parameters and throwing velocity. A total of 44 handball players participated, pooled by age groups: professional (ELITE, n = 13); under-18 (U18, n = 16); under-16 (U16, n = 15). The following tests were completed: 20-m running sprints; countermovement jumps (CMJs); jump squat to determine the load that elicited ∼20 cm jump height (JS_{LOAD-20 cm}); a progressive loading test in full squat and bench press to determine the load that elicited ∼1 m·s⁻¹ (SQ-V_1-LOAD and BP-V_1-LOAD); and handball throwing (jump throw and 3-step throw). ELITE showed greater performance in almost all sprint distances, CMJ, JS_{LOAD-20 cm}, and bench press strength than U18 and U16. The differences between U18 and U16 were unclear for these variables. ELITE also showed greater (p < 0.001) performance for squat strength and throwing than U18 and U16, and U18 attained greater performance (p ≤ 0.05) for these variables than U16. Throwing performance correlated (p ≤ 0.05) with sprint times (r = −0.31; −0.51) and jump ability (CMJ: r = 0.39; 0.56 and JS_{LOAD-20 cm}: r = 0.57; 0.60). Muscle strength was also associated (p < 0.001) with both types of throw (SQ-V_1-LOAD: r = 0.66; 0.76; and BP-V_1-LOAD: r = 0.33; 0.70). These results indicate that handball throwing velocity is strongly associated with lower-limb strength, although upper-limb strength, jumping and sprint capacities also play a relevant role in throwing performance, suggesting the need for coaches to include proper strength programs to improve handball players' throwing velocity.

This study analysed the acute mechanical and metabolic responses to a sprint training session focused on maintaining maximal speed until a given speed loss was reached. Nine male high-level sprinters performed 60 m running sprints up to a 3% in speed loss with 6 min rests between sets. Mechanical responses (countermovement jump (CMJ) height and speed loss) and metabolic responses (blood lactate and ammonia concentrations) were measured pre-exercise and after each set was performed. Jump height loss showed almost perfect relationships with both lactate (r = 0.91) and ammonia (r = 0.91) concentrations. In addition, nearly perfect relationships were observed for each athlete between CMJ height loss and lactate (r = 0.93–0.99) and ammonia (r = 0.94–0.99). Very large correlations were found between speed loss and lactate (r = 0.83), and ammonia (r = 0.86) concentrations. Furthermore, close relationships were observed for each athlete between speed loss and lactate (r = 0.86–0.99), and ammonia (r = 0.88–0.98). These results suggest that the CMJ test may allow more accurate setting of training loads in sprint training sessions, by using an individualised sprint dose based on mechanical and physiological responses rather than a standard fixed number of sprints for all athletes.

This study aimed to describe the physical and physiological demands of adolescent handball players and compare movement analysis and exercise intensities between the first and second halves and between the different periods of the match. Fourteen adolescent handball players (age 15.7 ± 0.8 years, body mass: 65.6 ± 3.4 kg, body height: 169.5 ± 3.9 cm), played two friendly matches, in which no substitutions were made. The analysis was carried out with a Global Positioning System technology. The following physical variables were analyzed: Total distance covered (TD); distance covered at faster velocities than 18 km·h^-1 (TDC>18km·h^-1); number of accelerations (Accel) and decelerations (Decel); number of accelerations and decelerations higher than 2.78 m·s^-2 (Accel>2.78 m·s^-2 and Decel>2.78 m·s^-2); number of sprints (Sprints); accelerations interspersed with a maximum of 30 s between them (RAS≤30s) and as a physiological variable the heart rate (HR) was examined. Significant differences (p < 0.01 –p < 0.001) between the first and the second half in all variables mentioned were observed, except in Accel>2.78 m·s^-2 and Decel>2.78 m·s^-2. This trend was also observed when comparing performance between the different 10-min periods. The 5th period (period 40-50 min) was the one that showed differences with respect to the previous ones. Adolescent handball players showed lower levels of exercise intensity, assessed by both time-motion and HR data, in the second half of matches, especially in the middle of this period.

This study compared the effects of a 6-week combined plyometric and sprint-training program on the sand to regular preseason training, on the athletic performance and technical actions of beach handball (BH) players. Athletes were randomly assigned either to the control (CG, n = 12; BH training only) or the experimental group (EG, n = 12; plyometric + sprint + BH training). Assessments conducted before and after the training period included a squat jump, a countermovement jump, the Abalakov jump, a 15-m sprint, a modified Course-Navette endurance test, and four sport-specific BH throwing speed tests: a standing penalty throw, a 3-step running throw, a jump throw, and a 360º jump throw. The training intervention enhanced all athletic performance measures (all, p < 0.05). In contrast, the only improvement in the CG included endurance performance (p < 0.05). Significant time-group differences were noted in favor of the EG compared to the CG (p < 0.05) in the squat jump, the countermovement jump, the Abalakov jump, the jump throw velocity and 360º jump throw velocity. In conclusion, compared to BH regular training, 6 weeks of sand surface preseason plyometric and sprint training combined with regular BH training induced greater improvements in athletic performance and specific skills in BH players.