Abstract
The objectives of this study were: (i) to analyse anthropometric parameters and throwing speed from seven meters in amateur male handball players of different ages; (ii) to know the relationship between anthropometric parameters and throwing. One hundred seventy-six male handball players (16.5 ± 5.1 years old) participated in the study, classified according to their age: senior (n = 35), U18 (n = 30), U16 (n = 37), U14 (n = 50) and U12 (n = 24). All participants were evaluated by anthropometric measurements (height, weight, body mass index, arm span, hand width) and throwing speed from 7 m standing. A one-way analysis of variance with a Bonferroni post hoc test was used to establish the differences between teams. Pearson’s simple correlation coefficients were calculated between analyse anthropometric parameters and throwing speed. Multiple linear regression was used to predict the throwing speed. Only BMI was related with throwing speed in all age groups (0.506 > r < 0.813, p < 0.05). Throwing speed was predicted (24–72%) with only one or two variables in each model. The selected variables were: BMI, arm span in U16 model and height U14 model, and the BMI, arm span and height are proved to be good predictors of TS in male handball players.
Highlights
Throwing the ball into the opponent’s goal is one of the most important actions for the achievement of sporting success in handball [1]
ANOVA analysis provided the differences between contiguous age groups (Table 1)
From the 7-m line, significant differences are shown between the U16-14 (p < 0.001) and U14-U12 (p < 0.001) groups.In the intergroup analysis (Figure 1) between Senior and U18 categories, a most likely evolution is observed in the variables of throwing speed (TS), arm span, weight, and height
Summary
Throwing the ball into the opponent’s goal is one of the most important actions for the achievement of sporting success in handball [1]. This technical-tactical gesture draws special attention as the goals difference between teams results in winners and losers at the end of a handball game [2,3,4]. It has been shown that speed and accuracy are the two most important factors while throwing the ball into the goal successfully [5]. Anthropometric characteristics [7,11,12], speed, and throwing accuracy [8,9] are considered as the most appropriate variables for talent detection [13]
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