Aerobic power, anaerobic power, and vertical jumping ability over an entire competitive period in young elite male handball players

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to examine the in-season variations in aerobic power, anaerobic power, and vertical jumping ability in young elite handball players in a laboratory setting.MethodsThe study involved 13 athletes (age: 19.9 ± 0.7 years, body mass: 90.0 ± 12.1 kg, height: 186.3 ± 6.3 cm, body fat percentage: 13.7 ± 4.8%), all members of the young national handball team. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2</sub>max), Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) performance (peak power [PP], mean power [MP], fatigue index [FI]), and vertical jumping ability(countermovement jump [CMJ]) were assessed on 3 occasions during the competitive period (beginning [T1], middle [T2], end [T3]).ResultsOnly slight and not significant changes were observed throughout the tested period for VO<sub>2</sub>max (T1 = 52.04 ± 4.30; T2 = 49.31 ± 3.96; T3 = 51.68 ± 5.38 ml ∙ kg–1; T1 to T3: –0.24 ± 5.83%, <i>p</i> > 0.05) and CMJ values (T1 = 46.99 ± 7.98; T2 = 46.57 ± 5.87; T3 = 48.15 ± 6.58 cm; T1 to T3: –3.26 ± 6.88%, <i>p</i> > 0.05). Similarly, all parameters evaluated during the WAnT showed small variations (PP: T1 to T3: 1.11 ± 5.67%; MP: T1 to T3: –0.04 ± 4.34%; FI: T1 to T3: 3.43 ± 9.20%; <i>p</i> > 0.05).ConclusionsThe indices of aerobic power, anaerobic power, and vertical jumping ability remained relatively constant among the tested group of young elite athletes throughout the handball competitive period.