Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the physical demands and match-induced
impairments in physical performance in male elite Team Handball (TH) players in relation
to playing position. Male elite TH field players were closely observed during 6 competitive
seasons. Each player (wing players: WP, pivots: PV, backcourt players: BP) was evaluated
during match-play using video recording and subsequently performing locomotion match
analysis. A total distance of 3 627±568 m (group means±SD) was covered per match with
a total effective playing time (TPT) of 53:51±5:52 min:s, while full-time players
covered 3 945±538 m. The mean speed was 6.40±1.01 km · h − 1. High-intensity running constituted only 1.7±0.9% of TPT per match corresponding
to 7.9±4.9% of the total distance covered. An average of 1 482.4±312.6 activity changes
per player (n=82) with 53.2±14.1 high-intensity runs were observed per match. Total
distance covered was greater in BP (3 765±532 m) and WP (3 641±501 m) than PV (3 295±495 m)
(p<0.05), and WP performed more high-intensity running (10.9±5.7% of total distance
covered) than PV (8.5±4.3%, p<0.05) and BP (6.2±3.2%, p<0.01). The amount of high-intensity
running was lower (p<0.05) in the second (130.4±38.4 m) than in the first half (155.3±47.6 m)
corresponding to a decrease of 16.2%.
In conclusion, modern male elite TH is a complex team sport that comprises several
types of movement categories, which during match-play place moderate-to-high demands
on intermittent endurance running capacity and where the amount of high-intensity
running may be high during brief periods of the match. Signs of fatigue-related changes
were observed in terms of temporary impaired physical performance, since the amount
of high-intensity running was reduced in the second half. Notably, physical demands
differed between playing positions, with WP demonstrating a more intensive activity
pattern than BP and PV, respectively.
Key words
locomotion match analysis - total distance covered - high-intensity running - positional
differences - temporary impaired performance
