Toward an Anthropometric Pattern in Elite Male Handball.

Florin Valentin Leuciuc,Dan Mihai Rohozneanu,Ileana Petrariu,Ileana Monica Popovici,Gheorghe Pricop

doi:10.3390/ijerph19052839

Abstract

We investigated the anthropometric characteristics associated with specific handball skills in competition. The body anthropometric profiles differ significantly among the playing positions in handball due to the specific tasks. The aim of this study is to identify the anthropometric patterns for each playing position by collecting data from elite male handball players. To determine the anthropometric profile of the elite handball players for each playing position, we used descriptive statistics for every indicator in order to identify the optimal patterns for elite handball players from the top-four ranked teams at the most important competitions over a period of 18 years (2004–2021). Over time, the anthropometric indices evolved: the average height increased (from 190 to 192.6 cm) but less than weight increased (from 90.5 to 95.28 kg), and these affected the body mass index (increase from 25.2 to 25.67). The novelty of our study is that we identified an anthropometric pattern for each playing position and for all teams in elite male handball. Our study also covered a period of 18 years to give our results more accuracy and reliability.

Highlights

Along with good sport preparation for elite athletes, the specific anthropometry indices are essential in order to achieve performance in top competitions in collective sports where others are important: maturity status [1], capacity to be trained [2], body composition [3–5], somatotype [6–8], physiological performance characteristics [9], specific skills [10,11], playing position [12–14] and specifics of the sport branches [8,15–18].In elite sport, the anthropometric indices have a major impact on performance [19–22]and there are other factors, such as the preparation level [23–25], specific preparation [26–28] and competition experience [29,30], that influence elite sport outcomes.Handball has a complex character due to the acyclic movements and situations that appear asking players performing tasks according to the playing position both in attack and in defense
The aim of this study is to identify the anthropometric patterns for each playing position by collecting data from elite male handball players
Starting with O.G. 2004, data were collected for anthropometric characteristics of the male handball players who participated at O.G., W.C. and E.C. in order to identify the specific patterns for each playing position

Summary

Introduction

Along with good sport preparation for elite athletes, the specific anthropometry indices are essential in order to achieve performance in top competitions in collective sports where others are important: maturity status [1], capacity to be trained [2], body composition [3–5], somatotype [6–8], physiological performance characteristics [9], specific skills [10,11], playing position [12–14] and specifics of the sport branches [8,15–18].In elite sport, the anthropometric indices have a major impact on performance [19–22]and there are other factors, such as the preparation level [23–25], specific preparation [26–28] and competition experience [29,30], that influence elite sport outcomes.Handball has a complex character due to the acyclic movements and situations that appear asking players performing tasks according to the playing position both in attack and in defense. Along with good sport preparation for elite athletes, the specific anthropometry indices are essential in order to achieve performance in top competitions in collective sports where others are important: maturity status [1], capacity to be trained [2], body composition [3–5], somatotype [6–8], physiological performance characteristics [9], specific skills [10,11], playing position [12–14] and specifics of the sport branches [8,15–18]. The modern handball game requires players to perform a high number of short, high-intensity specific actions. Based on these considerations, we can state that the features of anthropometric and motor particularities have a high degree of individualization according to the playing position, and it is interesting to determine how personal predispositions can compensate or substitute particular requirements of the playing position. The anthropometric characteristics are determinant in order to efficiently apply the specific handball skills in competitions [33]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion