Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 30, 2025
Importance of Jumping Ability in Handball Throwing Speed and Accuracy
Published on: April 4, 2025
Age differences in selected measures of physical fitness in young handball players
Jaime Fernandez-Fernandez1,2, Isidoro Martinez-Martin1,2, Vicente Garcia-Tormo1,2
1Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Universidad de León, León, Spain.
Objective:
The aims of the present study were: 1) to calculate the change of direction (COD) deficit (using a modified version of the 505 test and 10 m sprint time), and (2) to examine the differences in linear sprint, jump and COD performances, as well as COD deficit, between under-13 (U13) and under-15 (U15) male handball players.
Methods:
One hundred and nineteen young male handball players (under-13 [U13; n = 82] and under-15 [U15; n = 37]). Tests included anthropometric measurements, countermovement jump (CMJ), triple leg-hop for distance, linear sprint test (5, 10 and 20 m), and a modified version of the 505 COD test.
Results:
Results showed moderate to very large differences (P < 0.05) in age, predicted age at peak height velocity (APHV), distance from PHV (DPHV), height, and body mass between the age categories. Moreover, U15 players demonstrated higher performances in all jump tests and lower sprint times in 10- (ES = 0.84) and 20-m (ES = 0.51) and a higher 505 deficit (ES = 0.38) than the U13 players (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed for the 505 COD test between groups (ES = 0.12; P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that during the transition from pre- to post-puberty, young handball players should focus on transferring their progressive improvements in strength, speed, and power capacities to COD performance.
