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Agility in Handball: Position- and Age-Specific Insights in Performance and Kinematics Using Proximity and Wearable
Pieter Heuvelmans1, Alli Gokeler1, Anne Benjaminse2
1Exercise Science and Neuroscience Unit, Department of Exercise & Health, Paderborn University, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 14, 2025
Summary
Elite handball players
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Motor Control
Background:
- Handball demands high agility and complex motor-cognitive skills.
- Cognitive load impacts motor behavior and increases injury risk.
- Research on motor-cognitive demands in handball is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate elite handball players' agility performance under planned and reactive tasks.
- Analyze age- and position-specific differences in agility.
- Examine the influence of motor-cognitive load on performance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized FitLight sensors for execution time.
- Employed Noraxon Myomotion wearable inertial sensors for kinematic data.
- Compared adult vs. youth players and different playing positions.
Main Results:
- Adult players were faster than youth players, with distinct hip/knee flexion patterns.
- Backcourt players and wings outperformed pivots, showing unique lower limb kinematics.
- Kinematic differences suggest variations in acceleration/deceleration strategies and body composition.
Conclusions:
- Motor and cognitive demands significantly influence handball agility.
- Age and playing position are key factors in agility performance.
- Wearable inertial sensors are valuable for athlete evaluation and monitoring.
