Relation of Offensive Performance during Exclusions and Final Ranking in Female Handball

Abstract

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.