Physiological demands of elite team handeball with special reference to playing position

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

S. C. Póvoas (Author) Other; António Alexandre Moreira Ribeiro de Ascensão (Author) FADEUP; José Fernando Magalhães Pinto Pereira (Author) FADEUP; André Filipe Teixeira e Seabra (Author) FADEUP; P. Krustrup (Author) Other; José Manuel Costa Soares (Author) FADEUP; António Natal Campos Rebelo (Author) FADEUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

Vol. 28 No. 2

Pages: 430-442

ISSN: 1064-8011

Publisher: NSCA National Strength and Conditioning Association

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 23 Citations

Scopus - 3 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Social sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-5ZD

DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182a953b1

Abstract (EN): Povoas, SCA, AscensAo, AAMR, MagalhAes, J, Seabra, AF, Krustrup, P, Soares, JMC, and Rebelo, ANC. Physiological demands of elite team handball with special reference to playing position. J Strength Cond Res 28(2): 430-442, 2014This study aimed to analyze the physiological demands of match play for different playing positions in elite male team handball. Time motion (N = 30) and heart rate (HR; N = 70) data were recorded throughout 10 official matches. The mean distance covered by backcourt players (4.96 +/- 0.64 km) was greater (p 0.02) than for wings and pivots (4.23 +/- 0.52 and 3.91 +/- 0.51 km, respectively). Backcourt players spent less time standing still and walking (approximate to 76%) than wings and pivots (approximate to 80%) (p 0.03), and wings spent more time sprinting than the other playing positions. Backcourt players (122.9 +/- 17.0) and pivots (126.8 +/- 33.0) performed more high-demanding actions per game than wings (54.6 +/- 15.6) (p = 0.01). The time spent by pivots in high-intensity activities decreased from the first to the second half (4.1 +/- 2.4 to 2.7 +/- 0.9%; p 0.01), while backcourt players showed a decrease in high-demanding playing actions (p 0.05). Backcourt players and pivots had higher mean (84 +/- 9 and 83 +/- 9% vs. 79 +/- 10%; p 0.03) and peak effective HR, and percentage of total time at intensities >80% maximal HR (HRmax) than wings. The fraction of total time spent at intensities >80% HRmax decreased for all outfield playing positions in the second half (from 39-76 to 30-46%). Competitive team handball involves position-specific differences in the physiological demands. Furthermore, exercise intensity decreases from the first to the second half for all outfield playing positions suggesting that these players experience neuromuscular fatigue. Training of elite handball players should comprise high-intensity position-specific exercises aiming at improving the ability to maintain a high exercise intensity throughout the game.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific