The impact of game simulation drills on blocking and various defensive movements for handball players (15–18 years old)

The research is significant because it aims to improve the speed of motor response and visual tracking through targeted exercises using the visual stimuli device that the two researchers created as part of the training program for the sample. This program also supports the individual defensive movements of the players, which are exemplified by the skills of cutting and dispersing the ball and other defensive movements for young handball players. Regarding the research issue, the researchers observed a deficiency in the players' defensive performance, which manifests as slow movement and reaction to the ball's movement. This deficiency could be attributed to a lack of interest in handball player training programs as well as a weakness in visual abilities and motor response speed to the attacker's and the ball's movement. Preparing unique workouts with visual stimuli to enhance young handball players' motor reaction speed, visual tracking abilities, ball-cutting and ball-dispersing capabilities, and defensive maneuvers is one of the research's goals. The research population was purposefully selected and sampled; specifically, the goalkeepers, who numbered two, were omitted, and the youth players of the Diyala Handball Club for the 2022–2023 sports season, numbered eighteen. As a result, the sample size increased to sixteen participants, who were split into eight players, representing the experimental group, and eight players, representing the control group, at random (even and odd numbers). After conducting an exploratory experiment on two handball players, the researchers came to the conclusion that the experimental study sample's development of visual tracking and motor reaction speed was positively impacted by workouts on the visual stimulus device. The researchers suggest that in order to improve handball players' efficiency, it is imperative to engage in visual stimulus workouts that enhance skill performance and physical and visual capacities.

To investigate the effects of acute caffeine (CAFF) intake on physical performance in elite women handball players. A total of 15 elite women handball players participated in a randomized, double-blind study. In 2 different trials, participants ingested either a placebo (cellulose) or 3mg of CAFF per kilogram of body mass (mg/kg bm) before undergoing a battery of neuromuscular tests consisting of handball throws, an isometric handgrip strength test, a countermovement jump, a 30-m sprint test (SV) and a modified version of the agility T test. Then, participants performed a simulated handball game (2 × 20min), and movement patterns were recorded with a local positioning system. Compared with the placebo, CAFF increased ball velocity in all ball throws (P = .021-.044; effect size [ES] = 0.39-0.49), strength in isometric handgrip strength test (350.8 [41.2] vs 361.6 [46.1]N, P = .034; ES = 0.35), and countermovement-jump height (28.5 [5.5] vs 29.8 [5.5]cm; P = .006; ES = 0.22). In addition, CAFF decreased running time in the SV (4.9 [0.2] vs 4.8 [0.3]s; P = .042; ES = -0.34). In the simulated game, CAFF increased the frequency of accelerations (18.1 [1.2] vs 18.8 [1.0] number/min; P = .044; ES = 0.54), decelerations (18.0 [1.2] vs 18.7 [1.0] number/min; P = .032; ES = 0.56), and body impacts (20 [8] vs 22 [10] impacts/min; P = .032; ES = 0.30). However, postexercise surveys about self-reported feelings of performance indicate that players did not feel increased performance with CAFF. Preexercise ingestion of 3mg/kg bm of CAFF improved ball-throwing velocity, jump, and sprint performance and the frequency of in-game accelerations and decelerations in elite women handball players.

Handball is a sport which demands a high level of coordination. The term “coordination” has been defined as the ability to perform complex motor exercises. The 5 basic coordination abilities are: reaction, rhythm, balance, kinesthetic differentiation and space - time orientation. It has been suggested that “additional technique training” should be practiced during childhood and adolescence in order enhance coordination abilities. The aim of this study was to define which elements of coordination are the most important in handball and to identify whether a coordination training program will improve the performance of basic handball skills among children. Ten expert coaches in handball completed a questionnaire relating to the five elements of coordination and gave their opinion regarding the most important elements of coordination for handball players. Based on the results from the questionnaires, a program was designed to provide practice in the most important elements of coordination for handball. The study participants were 20 female youth handball players (age 11 ± 2 years). The experimental group (EG, n=20) performed a specific coordination program 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Measurements of handball performance were taken prior to beginning the program and again after 12 weeks of training. The results revealed that there was a significant difference in performance before and after the training program. In conclusion, performance of basic handball skills (passing, shooting, dribbling and defensive movements) improved after participating in the training program for 12 weeks.

The current study aims at: - Identifying the statistically significant differences of some skills variables for the handball players between the pre-test and the post-test of the experimental group. - Identifying the statistical significant differences of some skill variables for the handball players between the controlling and experimental groups in the post-test. In order to verify the objectives of the research, the researchers put forwards the following: - There are significant differences in some skill variables for the handball players between the pre-test and the post-test for the experimental group in favor of the post-test. - Identifying the statistical significant differences of some skill variables for the handball players between the controlling and experimental groups in favor of the experimental group. The researchers used the experimental methodology as it suits the nature of the research and the experiment was conducted for a sample that includes AlFotuwwa club handball players, whom were tested using the deliberate method and divided randomly into two groups (the experimental and the controlling groups) and each of the groups consisted of (10) players for each group. Homogeneity and equivalence were achieved in the two groups of the research in terms of the (age, height and weight) variables in addition to the variables determined by the relevant specialists. The experimental design that is called the design of the controlling group with random selection with pre-test and post-test .The procedures of the research involved press and role-exchange exercises with a competitive style and these exercises were applied to the experimental group. In light of the results reached, the researchers drew the following conclusions: - The press and role-exchange exercises using the competition style developed all the skill variables through comparing the results of the pre-tests and post-tests of the experimental group. - The program prepared by the coach resulted in developing the skills of (zigzag Dribbling, long pass, defensive movements back and forth and scoring at the squares 9 meters). The experimental group, which used the press and role-exchange exercises with the competitive style, achieved a better development than the controlling group, which used the program prepared by the coach, in terms of all the skill variables tackled by the research and that was through comparing the results of the post-tests of the experimental and the controlling groups

The importance of this research lies in highlighting one of the modern training methods that may contribute to improving the athletic performance of handball players, whether on the physical or tactical level. From the perspective of physiological variables, repeated-sprint training at maximal and sub-maximal intensities is employed to enhance anaerobic capacity and increase the efficiency of the nervous system. The research problem emerged from the observation that many coaches focus heavily on offensive skills, neglecting the fact that an offensive mistake results in losing the ball, whereas a defensive error grants the opponent a scoring opportunity. Additionally, poor performance results may be attributed to the inability of the body’s functional systems to withstand the demands of continuous and variable motor performance, as well as the noticeable delay in physical preparatory aspects such as speed of movement across the court, reaction time, and decision-making during defensive situations like intercepting or clearing the ball. Despite the importance of these aspects, training programs for players under 15 years of age still require further development in defensive performance and movement speed, which in turn influence physical abilities such as lower-limb explosive power and anaerobic functional variables.The study aims to: Design repeated-sprint training using maximal and sub-maximal intensities for handball players under 15 years of age, and identify the effects of this training on the alactic (phosphagen) anaerobic functional variable, lower-limb explosive power, and individual defensive movement among players in this age group. The researchers used the experimental method with a design of two equivalent groups (experimental and control). The research population consisted of players from the Specialized Handball School in Baghdad under the age of 15. The sample was intentionally selected and consisted of (20) players, randomly divided into two groups: (10) players in the experimental group and (10) in the control group. Results showed that repeated-sprint training had a significant positive effect on the development of lower-limb explosive power (right and left) and on improving the phosphagen anaerobic functional variable in the experimental group. The designed training also led to significant improvement in individual defensive movements, including ball interception and clearance. A lesser degree of improvement was observed in the control group compared to the experimental group.

Handball and basketball are games that characterized by the performance of the requirements and duties of the defense movements based on the distinct capabilities of the speed of movement, especially in the defense movements, which requires anaerobic, physical capabilities and skill is relatively variable. The problem of research, it is through the experience of the researchers that they are professors and coaches of the games and the importance of the use of tests to evaluate the levels of players in the collective games periodically and continuously as one of the steps that determine the success and evaluation of the coach and players together for the purpose of showing the difference and relative proportion in some physical blocks and indicators of functional performance and body mass ratio. Slower moves in closing defensive gaps and fluctuating player performance may also be caused by the inability of the body's functional organs and the physical abilities of Wassit University players to play handball and basketball. The objective of the research is to identify some physical abilities, functional and non-functional performance indicators, body mass index (BMI), and correlation between physical abilities, non-oxygen functional parameters and body mass index (BMI). The researchers used the descriptive approach and the method of comparative study and correlative relationships. The researchers identified the research community and its sample of the players from the Wassit University of Handball teams. The total number of the sample was (20) players, (10) players per game for the academic year (2017-2018. .After the tests were applied and processed statistically The researchers concluded several conclusions, the most important of which were - the best basketball players in the long jump tests of stability, the three left and right leg testers within the physical abilities, the 30 sec- step tests and the 10-sec step-test in the non-occupational performance indicators. Handball was the best choice in the test running and jumping 50m within the physical abilities. There were significant correlations between the defensive movement and the physical abilities (the explosive force of the legs, the speed characteristic of the right and left leg, showed significant correlation relationships between defensive moves and between functional and indicators of anaerobic performance (tactics and phosphate) for handball and basketball players. One of the most important recommendations is to take advantage of the results achieved to develop the anaerobic and physical abilities of the players for their importance in the defensive moves of

The purpose of this paper is to preparing special exercises to develop some visual abilities and the skill of defensive movements for the players of the educational teams of the Middle Euphrates in handball, preparing tests for some visual abilities for the players of the educational teams of the Middle Euphrates in handball, and identifying some visual abilities and defensive movement skills of players of the Middle Euphrates handball teams. The research objectives addressed by the researchers are what determine the nature of the method used, so the researchers used the experimental method in the style of two equivalent groups (control and experimental) with pre- and post-tests to suit the research objectives. The research community was determined by handball players for the teams of the Middle Euphrates region's education affiliated to the general education directorates in the governorates, distributed according to the governorates (Karbala, Najaf, Babylon, Muthanna, Diwaniyah), totaling (150) players. The research sample was chosen randomly and represented the players of the Karbala Education team affiliated to the holy Karbala Governorate, numbering (30) players who represent if the goalkeepers were excluded due to the specificity of the exercises, numbering (2) and (4) players were absent from performing the exercises, and the total number of the sample became (24) where they were randomly divided into two equal groups (control and experimental) with (12) players for each group, thus representing the research community, its sample and the percentage. The exploratory sample was 8 players from the Education of Babylon Governorate. One of the most important results reached by the researcher is that: The tests prepared by the researchers gave real results for visual abilities in handball, and the special exercises contributed to developing visual abilities and the skill of various defensive movements better among the members of the experimental group. One of the most important recommendations recommended by the researchers is that: Necessity of using special exercises to develop special visual abilities and the skill of defensive movements that were not studied with the same sample and other samples, and preparing special tests for visual abilities for each game according to the nature of its performance and needs

Although the physiological demands of cricket match play are emerging, the demands of contemporary training practices have not been reported. The aim of this study was to quantify the physiological demands of selected cricket training activities and compare these to known match demands. Twenty-eight different training activities were monitored in national academy level cricketers (n = 42) using global positioning system units during a 14-week residential training program. The training activities were classified into 3 categories: conditioning sessions (n = 8), skill sessions (n = 9), and game simulations (n = 11). Conditioning sessions were further classified into high- (n = 4) and low- (n = 4) intensity drills. Time-motion measures included movement patterns (walk, jog, run, stride, and sprint distances), total distance covered, number of sprints, number of high-intensity efforts, maximum speed, and recovery time between high-intensity efforts. Inferential statistics were used to quantify magnitudes of difference between various training drills. Movement patterns were then compared to recently published game data (Twenty20, One-Day, and Multiday games) from the same sample group of cricketers. Conditioning drills were twice as long in duration as skill drills and twice as intense as both the skill and game simulation drills. Exercising heart rates were 9-26% and lactate levels up to 3.5 times higher in conditioning compared to other training drills. Conditioning drills matched or exceeded (up to 10 b·min⁻¹; 5%) peak game heart rates. Conversely, skill and simulation drills replicated mean game heart rates for some, but not all positions. In conclusion, training replicates or exceeds cricket match demands in conditioning-type drills but not in simulation or skill-based drills. Modification of skill and simulation training drill practices will ensure closer replication of match and training demands.

The central nervous system plays a crucial role in the development of physical fatigue. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of combined supplementation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and arginine on intermittent sprint performance in simulated handball games on 2 consecutive days. Methods: Fifteen male and seven female handball players consumed 0.17 g/kg BCAA and 0.04 g/kg arginine together (AA trial), or placebo (PB trial) before exercise. Each trial contained two 60-min simulated handball games on consecutive days. The game was consisted of 30 identical 2-min blocks and a 20 m all-out sprint was performed at the end of each block. The performance, measured by percentage changes of sprint time between day 1 and 2, was significantly better in the AA trial (first half: AA trial: -1.34±0.60%, PB trial: -0.21±0.69%; second half: AA trial: -1.68±0.58%, PB trial: 0.49±0.42%). The average ratings of perceive exertion throughout the 2-day trial was significantly lower in the AA trial (14.2±0.3) than the PB trial (15.1±0.4). Concurrently, post-exercise tryptophan/BCAA ratio on both days in the AA trial was significantly lower than the baseline. This study showed that BCAA and arginine supplementation could improve performance in intermittent sprints on the second consecutive day of simulated handball games in well-trained athletes by potentially alleviating central fatigue.

The Effect of Training on Sand on Muscular Power, Legs Tolerance, Various Defensive Movements, and Lactic Acid of Handball Players

This research explored the factorial structure of handball-specific skill tests conducted on 50 female players using Principal Component Analysis to identify core performance dimensions. Nine skill test and anthropometric variables were analyzed, including defensive movement, various passing and shooting techniques, and dribbling ability. The analysis revealed three principal components explaining 55.72% of the total variance. The first (23.34%, eigenvalue = 2.33) represented passing and shooting precision, dominated by the 22 m ground pass (0.82) and face shooting (0.77). The second (19.10%, eigenvalue = 1.91) illustrated defensive agility and coordination, characterized by defensive movement (0.62) and the 10 m wall pass (0.60). The third (13.28%, eigenvalue = 1.33) reflected endurance-based passing and finishing, defined by 30 s wall pass (0.79) and penalty shooting (0.80). High communalities were observed for zigzag dribble (0.76), face shooting (0.69), and 22 m ground pass (0.68), confirming handball performance as multidimensional.

In time-pressured decisions, humans exploit contextual knowledge to reduce uncertainty about the unfolding situation and to improve behavioral control. However, in complex real-world settings, it remains unclear whether the explicit provision of contextual information is beneficial or not. We thus examined the information gain of explicitly provided information as a function of expertise, information uncertainty and acquisition phase. To this end, we measured the positioning of female handball players (N = 36 experts + 36 near-experts) in a virtual-reality defensive task as a function of their teammates' defensive-strength patterns, which was either explicitly instructed or had to be self-generated. Furthermore, the certainty of provided information was experimentally varied (67% vs. 83% consistent information). All eight groups-expertise (2) x acquisition condition (2) x information certainty (2)-improved performance in terms of the positional difference in their defense movements, meaning that they either moved more sideways to support their neighboring teammate or remained more often in their position when no support was required. However, an explicit-knowledge test showed no differences regarding pattern detection between the acquisition conditions, implying that the performance enhancement of the self-generated groups was not due to explicit-knowledge accumulation. Most notably, experts generally benefitted from explicit instructions whereas for near-experts, an information gain could only be revealed for comparably certain information. This interaction implies that future research on explicit provision vs. self-generation of contextual knowledge should pursue a more differential approach, thereby also considering gender and age as well as personality factors.

The present study aimed to identify parameters that best discriminate between high-level and scholar-level players for the Brazilian 13–14-year-old girl’s handball and propose a mathematical model to identify sports talent for handball. The sample was made up of all available handball players comprising these two groups: 100 girls who participated in the high-level handball championship in Brazil and 53 girls (age 13–14 years) as finalists of the school-level games in one region of Brazil. We assess the anthropometric profile, maturity offset, physical fitness, and technical skills for handball. To propose the equation, the Discriminant Function Analysis method was used. The discriminant function was significant (p ≤ .05), had a good canonical correlation (0.590), and still had an average Wilk Lambda (0.652). The variables considered in the talent identification model included: 1. flexibility, 2. abdominal strength, 3. lower limbs muscle power, 4. agility, 5. defensive movement and 6. slalom with ball. The values from the equation for identifying school-age athletes with high motor skills and performance for handball can be classified by a cutoff point (Y = 0.192). The results showed that the mathematical-model obtained was able to select school-age athletes with high motor skills for handball, and with the profile for participation in high-level championships.

This study examined the effect of a 10-week programme of strength training with elastic band (STEB) on fitness components in young female handball players. Twenty-six young female handball players (aged 15.8 ± 0.2 years) from the same club participated in this study. They were randomly assigned between experimental (EG; n = 13) and control (CG; n = 13) groups. The EG performed the STEB, replacing some handball-specific drills in the regular handball training. The CG followed the regular handball training (i.e., mainly technical-tactical drills, small sided and simulated games, and injury prevention drills). Two-way analyses of variance were used to assess: handgrip; back extensor strength; medicine ball throw; 30 m sprint times; Modified Illinois change-of-direction (Illinois-MT); four jump tests: squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJA) and five-jump test (5JT); static (Stork test) and dynamic balance (Y Balance Test); and repeated sprint T-test (RSTT). Results revealed significant gains in handgrip - right (p < 0.001, d = 1.75: large), handgrip - left (p < 0.001, d = 2.52: large), back extensor (p < 0.001, d = 2.01: large), and medicine ball throw (p = 0.002, d = 0.95: large) with EG compared to the CG. The EG also demonstrated greater improvement in sprint performance over 20 m (Δ = 10.6%, p = 0.001, d = 1.07: large) and 30 m (Δ = 7.2%, p < 0.0001, d = 1.56: large) compared to the CG. The EG showed better Illinois-MT (Δ = 5.6%, p = 0.034, d = 0.62: medium) compared to the CG. Further, EG posted significant improvements in the SJ (Δ = 17.3%, p = 0.048, d = 0.58: medium), CMJ (Δ = 17.7%, p = 0.017 d = 0.71: medium), and CMJA (Δ = 16.3%, p = 0.019, d = 0.69: medium) compared to the CG. Similarly, the EG exhibited significant improvement in RSTT best time [p = 0.025, d = 0.66 (medium)], RSTT mean time [p = 0.019, d = 0.69 (medium)] and RSTT total time [p = 0.019, d = 0.69 (medium)] compared to the CG. In conclusion, the 10-week STEB improved the physical abilities in young female handball players.

This study examined the relationship between skill performance and selected physical fitness variables of hand ball players of Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. 30 handball players aged 18-11 years were randomly selected from players undergoing rigorous training camp for the All India Inter-University tournament. Defensive ability, passing ability and dribbling ability were assessed by defence movement test, passing test and control dribbling test. The tests selected for the physical fitness variables were: speed, 50 m run; explosive power, sergeant jump; agility, 6×10 m shuttle run; cardiorespiratory endurance, 12 min run/walk test; flexibility, bend and reach test. The statistical tool used was Pearson product moment correlation. Defensive ability was positively correlated with speed (r=0.72) and agility (r=0.61), whereas explosive power, cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility were negatively correlated. Passing ability was negatively correlated with speed and agility, and positively correlated with explosive power (r=0.38), cardiorespiratory endurance (r=0.79) and flexibility (r=0.69). The skill of dribbling was positively correlated with speed (r=0.87) and agility (r=0.95), and negatively correlated with explosive power; it was not significantly correlated with cardiorespiratory endurance or flexibility. The results showed that defensive ability performance can be improved by good speed and agility. A player can excel in passing if he has good explosive power, cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility. The skill of dribbling can be taken care of if a player has speed and agility.