Abstract
The present study evaluated the physical demands imposed on female elite team handball
players in relation to playing position. Female elite team handball field players
were examined during match-play over a 5-year period using video based computerized
locomotion analysis of tournament matches. In addition, physiological measurements
during match-play and in separate physical tests were carried out. A total distance
of 4 002±551 m (group means±SD) was covered per match with a total effective playing
time of 50:42±5:50 min:s, while full-time players covered 4 693±333 m. On average,
each player (n=83) performed 663.8±99.7 activity changes per match, and the mean speed
was 5.31±0.33 km · h−1. High-intensity running constituted 0.8±0.5% of total effective playing time per
match corresponding to 2.5±1.8% of the total distance covered. The amount of high-intensity
running was reduced (p<0.05) 21.9% in the second half (44.9±16.8 m) compared to the
first (57.5±21.3 m). Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2-max) was 3.49±0.37 l O2 · min−1 corresponding to 49.6±4.8 ml O2 · min−1 · kg−1. Mean relative workload during match-play was 79.4±6.4% of VO2-max. Mean total running distance in the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (level 1)
was 1 436±222 m, which was greater in wing players (1 516±172 m, p<0.05) than pivots
(1 360±118 m) and backcourt players (1 352±148 m). In conclusion, modern female elite
team handball is a physically demanding intermittent team sport, where players are
exposed to high relative workloads with substantial estimated aerobic energy expenditure
interspersed by short periods of dominant anaerobic energy production as reflected
by the limited amount of high-intensity running. Indications of fatigue and a resulting
decline in physical performance were identified, since the amount of high-intensity
running and the relative workload levels decreased in the second half. Positional
differences were observed, with wing players covering a greater total distance than
backcourt players, performing more high-intensity running and demonstrating a better
intermittent recovery capacity (Yo-Yo test outcome) compared to both backcourt players
and pivots.
Key words
locomotion match analysis - high-intensity running - physiological measurements -
relative workload - physical testing
