Differences in game-based performance by playing position in young elite male team handball players

In male team handball, different playing positions have different demands due to their tactical roles. However, if the game-based physical performance differs across playing positions has not been analyzed, although this is crucial for training young elite players to reach a world-class level based on their specific positions. Consequently, the aim of this study was to analyze game-based performance in young elite male team handball players based on their playing positions.

Forty-eight young elite male team handball players (age: 17.5 ± 1.9 years, body weight: 82.5 ± 9.9 kg, body height: 1.86 ± 0.05 m), including 23 backs, 17 wings and 8 pivots participated in the study. All players trained 7-8 sessions per week at an elite team handball academy and competed at the highest international level for their age group. To determine specific physical performance, all participants performed the team handball game-based performance test. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the performance differences among backs, wings and pivots.

Significant differences between playing positions (P < 0.05) were found in peak oxygen uptake, heart rate, fast break and offense time, jump height during the jump shot, and body mass. Wings showed the best performance in fast break (1.78 ± 0.08 s), offense time (5.74 ± 0.19 s), jump height during the jump shot (0.39 ± 0.06 m), and peak oxygen uptake (72.4 ± 8.4 ml/kg/min). Backs performed best in ball velocity during the jump shot (25.1 ± 1.5 m/s), while pivots had the highest body weight (90.5 ± 14.1 kg).

As expected, pivots were the heaviest due to facing the most physical contact with defenders during matches. Wings were the fastest on the court and jumped the highest, while backs demonstrated the highest throwing velocities, as they frequently perform long-distance throws during games. However, the high levels of peak oxygen uptake for wings and backs (around 70 ml/kg/min) and pivots (around 60 ml/kg/min), along with no significant differences in defense time between positions, highlight the importance of both aerobic and anaerobic performance for all players to maintain an active and dynamic performance throughout the entire match.