• In 1884 handball was included in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA ) charter as one of the four Gaelic games organised by the GAA (O’Flynn & Baldwin, 2008).
• The game is played throughout schools and GAA clubs and consists of several codes based on handball court dimensions and number of walls.
• For the purposes of this study the emphasis has been placed on profiling and characterising players participating in the 40 feet x 20 feet code of handball.
• Classified as an indoor court sport which also include squash, racquetball, and badminton (Alexander & Boreskie, 1989).
• A handball match consists of two games to 21 with a tie breaker (if required)played to 11 while the scoring system dictates that points can only be won when a player is in serve.

• In regards to the literature concerning handball it has received little attention in comparison to the other indoor court sports.
• Very few papers published over the last 20 years.
– An early time motion analysis conducted by Francis (1952).
– Loftin (1996), recreational handball players aged 45-50, analysis of singles play.
– A time motion, physical and physiological profile was conducted by Alexander and Boreskie (1989) on two elite handball players.

• The aim of the first part of this research project was to conduct an anthropometric and physical profile of male and female junior Irish handball players.
• The aim of the second part of the research project was to assess the physiological response of players to the game demands during competition matches.
• The aim of the third part of the research project was to conduct a match activity analysis to determine match length, game length, rally length, number of shots per rally and actual work time of players.

Subject Recruitment:
• The recruitment of subjects involved contacting GAA handball Ireland for permission.
• Juveniles from the ages of 14-17 would partake in the study.
• The selection criterion was based on player performance over several juvenile competitions.
• Each subject and their parents gave written informed consent before the start of the study.
• Ethical approval was granted by the ethics committee at Staffordshire University.

CMJ
MBT
Anthropometric & Physical Characterisation:
Anthropometric & Flexibility
Assessment
Height, Mass, ∑ 7
S & R
Power Assessment
Speed Assessment
5m & 10m
Speed
5-10-5
Agility
Agility Assessment
Aerobic Endurance Assessment 20m MSFT

Anthropometric characteristics of junior male and female handball players.
Parameter
Age
(yrs)
Height
(cm)
Mass
(kgs)
∑7 skinfolds
(mm)
Male (N=19)
Female (N=10)
16 ( ± 1.2) 174.1
( ± 8.6)*
64.4 ( ± 10.4) 62.8 ( ± 15.6)*
15 ( ± 1.1) 161.7 ( ± 3.8) 60.2 ( ± 3.7) 107.6 ( ± 18.0)
*Significantly different at 0.05 level (2-tailed).

Physical characteristics of junior male and female handball players.
Parameter
Male
(N=19)
Flexibility
Counter Movement Jump (cm)
Medicine Ball Throw (m)
Left Hand Grip Strength (kgs)
Right Hand Grip Strength (kgs)
18.8 ( ± 6.4)
29.2 ( ± 4.0)*
3.93 ( ± 0.62)*
38.3 ( ± 8.1)*
37.9 ( ± 8.8)*
1.15 ( ± 0.09)* 5m Speed (seconds)
10m Speed (seconds)
5-10-5 Pro Agility (seconds)
1.95 ( ± 0.11)*
5.27 ( ± 0.26)*
20m Multi Stage Shuttle Run (shuttles) 106.2 ( ± 19.7)*
Estimated VO
2max
(ml·kg −1 ·min −1 ) 53.6 ( ± 5.6)*
*Significantly different at 0.05 level (2-tailed).
Female
(N=10)
23.1 ( ± 3.1)
24.2 ( ± 2.4)
3.04 ( ± 0.15)
29.7 ( ± 3.5)
26.6 ( ± 5.6)
1.25 ( ± 0.08)
2.14 ( ± 0.10)
5.89 ( ± 0.44)
71.2 ( ± 17.9)
44.3 ( ± 5.1)

Correlation matrix of anthropometric test results of junior male and female handball players.
∑7
Parameter
Age
Height
Mass
P
R
P
R
P
R
P
R
Age
1
Height
.459
*
0.012
1
Mass
.489
**
0.007
.710
**
.000
1
R = Pearson's R, P = Sig (2-tailed).
* Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).
** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
∑7
-0.072
0.709
-.523
**
0.004
-0.044
0.82
1

Correlation matrix of fitness test results of junior male and female handball players.
Age
Mass
∑7
CMJ
MBT
Variable
Grip Left
Grip Right
5m Speed
10m Speed
Agility
P
R
P
R
P
R
P
R
P
R
P
R
P
P
R
P
R
R
P
R
Age
1
Mass
.489
**
0.007
1
∑7
-0.072
0.709
-0.044
0.82
1
CMJ
.576
**
0.001
0.353
0.06
-.505
**
0.005
1
MBT
.537
**
0.003
.788
**
.000
-.419
*
0.024
.636
**
.000
1
Grip Left Grip Right 5m Speed 10m Speed Agility 20m MSFT
.629
**
.000
.776
**
.000
-0.348
0.065
.767
**
.000
.885
**
.000
1
.571
0.001
.759
**
.000
-.418
*
0.024
.710
**
.000
.899
**
.000
.911
.000
1
**
**
-0.002
0.991
-0.193
0.316
.462
*
0.012
-.462
*
0.012
-.410
0.027
-0.304
0.109
-.438
0.017
1
*
*
-0.185
0.337
-.371
*
0.048
.580
**
0.001
-.545
**
0.002
-.585
-.488
**
0.001
**
0.007
-.585
**
0.001
.899
**
.000
1
-0.031
0.875
-0.285
0.134
.783
**
.000
-.500
**
0.006
-.533
**
0.003
-.475
**
0.009
-.547
**
0.002
.639
**
.000
.696
**
.000
1
0.154
0.425
0.059
0.763
.631
**
.000
.373
*
0.046
.407
*
0.029
.394
*
0.034
.434
*
0.019
-0.226
0.239
-0.315
0.096
.638
**
.000
R = Pearson's R, P = Sig (2-tailed).
* Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).
** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).

Comparison of fitness test results to male and female world champions
Parameter
Age (yrs)
Height (cm)
Mass (kgs)
∑7 skinfolds (mm)
Flexibility
Counter Movement Jump (cm)
Medicine Ball Throw (m)
Left Hand Grip Strength (kgs)
Right Hand Grip Strength (kgs)
5m Speed (seconds)
10m Speed (seconds)
5-10-5 Pro Agility (seconds)
20m Multi Stage Shuttle Run (shuttles)
Estimated VO
2max
(ml·kg −1 ·min −1 )
Male Female
(N=19) (N=10)
16 ( ± 1.2) 15 ( ± 1.1)
174.1 ( ± 8.6) 161.7 ( ± 3.8)
64.4 ( ± 10.4) 60.2 ( ± 3.7)
62.8 ( ± 15.6) 107.6 ( ± 18.0)
18.8 ( ± 6.4) 23.1 ( ± 3.1)
29.2 ( ± 4.0)* 24.2 ( ± 2.4)
3.93 ( ± 0.62)* 3.04 ( ± 0.15)
38.3 ( ± 8.1)*
37.9 ( ± 8.8)*
29.7 (
26.6 (
±
±
3.5)
5.6)
1.15 ( ± 0.09)* 1.25 ( ± 0.08)
1.95 ( ± 0.11)* 2.14 ( ± 0.10)
5.27 ( ± 0.26)* 5.89 ( ± 0.44)
106.2 ( ± 19.7)* 71.2 ( ± 17.9)
53.6 ( ± 5.6)* 44.3 ( ± 5.1)
Elite
Male
29
174.5
77.2
44.2
32.1
44.6
5.70
54.0
44.9
1.08
1.75
4.76
136
61.3
Elite
Female
31
170.0
62.8
72.1
24.5
27.7
3.70
40.4
44.1
1.28
2.02
5.17
111
54.3

V
O
2max
Pipes (1979) values ~58 ml/kg/min in elite pros
Alexander & Boreskie (1989)
V O
2max values ~53-55 ml/kg/min of elite senior players.
This study
V O
2max values ~44-54 ml/kg/min of junior players.
Handball
Racquetball
Squash
Ghosh et al (1993)
Junior female Indian players
V O
2max results of 44-46ml/kg/min
Mahoney & Sharp (1995) reported V O
2max values ~53 ml/kg/min of male Irish elite junior players.

Physiological Characterisation of Players During Games:
• A Polar heart rate team sport system, (Polar Electro Kempele, Finland) was utilised to monitor heart rate response. Heart rate signal was recorded and stored at 5 second intervals.
• Eight players were monitored (4 male and 4 female), the monitor was placed on the athletes’ chest in the changing rooms prior to their match.
• Once the games were completed, the data from the belts were downloaded to a computer using the Polar Precision 5.0 software (Polar, Kempele, Finland).
• Data were processed and expressed in absolute values and reported in relation to the individual maximal heart rate (HR max
) of the participants.

Player heart rate profiles during a handball match between players A and B.

Game heart rate response of male and female Irish handball players.

Match heart rate response of male and female Irish handball players.
89-91%
?

Montgomery (1981)
87% of max HR
Racquetball
Alexander & Boreskie (1989)
80-88% of max HR
Elite pros
Handball
Loftin et al (1996)
85% max HR
Masters level
Squash
Chin et al (1995)
88-92% of max HR male and female
International players
Reilly (1990)
88% of max HR
Recreational players

Match Activity Analysis:
• Eight matches (four female and four male) were recorded using a Panasonic HDC-
HS60 video recording camera mounted upon a tripod at the rear of the handball court.
• The video footage was then uploaded into dartfish (Switzerland) performance analysis software version 5.5.
• A tagging panel was designed to record match variables e.g. match length, game length, number of rallies, number of shots per rally, rally time and rest duration.
• To determine game and match time, all player timeouts and rest between games were extracted to give a more accurate reflection of the demands placed on the players.

Handball match activity characteristics of female and male junior
Irish handball players.
Variable
Match length (mm:ss)
Game 1 length (mm:ss)
Game 2 length (mm:ss)
Shots per game
Rallies per match
Shots per rally
Average rally duration (s)
Average rest duration (s)
Work to rest ratio
Active time (%)
Shots per rally time (s-
1
)
Female (n=4)
35:12 ( ± 07:09)
13:36 ( ± 04:52)
21:37 ( ± 04:11)
494 ( ± 112)
112 ( ± 18)
4.4 ( ± 0.4)
9.3 ( ± 0.96)
11.1 ( ± 1.7)
1:1.2 ( ± 0.11)
49.8 ( ± 3.5)
2.1 ( ± 0.08)
Male (n=4)
41:53 ( ± 06:34)
19:20 ( ± 05:53)
22:33 ( ± 02:24)
624 ( ± 38)
139 ( ± 7)*
4.5 ( ± 0.2)
9.8 ( ± 3.0)
10.6 ( ± 1.3)
1:1.1 ( ± 0.42)
47.5 ( ± 4.4)
2.2 ( ± 0.76)
*Significantly different at 0.05 level (2-tailed).

Alexander & Boreskie
(1989)
Active time= 49%
Rally times = 9 secs
Shots per rally = (5.1-6.1)
Rest time = 11 secs
Montpetit (1990)
Active time= 49.1-53.7%
Rally times = 6.9-7.2 secs
Shots per rally = 3-3.1
Rest time = 7.2 secs
Squash
Faria and Lewis (1982)
90% rallies <10 secs active time = 32%
Handball Racquetball
Francis (1952)
Active Time = 59%
Rally times = 10.8 secs
Rest time = 8.7 secs
Montgomery (1981)
Active time = 52%
Rally time = 7.7 secs

• Physical characterisation revealed that male players were significantly faster, stronger, more powerful, greater agility and aerobically fitter than their female colleagues.
• Game is intermittent in nature with demands placed on the alactic and lactic anaerobic systems.
• Strong correlations with body composition and speed, power agility and aerobic endurance fitness components.
• High aerobic fitness a key component to ensure a high intensity match play.
• Players V O
2max results similar to those of junior male and female squash and badminton players.
• Coaches should therefore design training regimes to induce the development of a sufficient endurance capacity.
• Match activity analysis revealed that matches lasted approximately 35-42 minutes.
• Heart rate response averaged ~90% of maximum heart rate during matches for both sexes.
• To complement aerobic capacity training coaches should also base training on a large number of competitive actions of high intensity but short duration that reflect the intermittent nature of the sport.

• More match activity and heart rate analysis required.
• No anaerobic capacity tests were conducted.
• More in depth strength and power profiling required.
• Development of a handball specific test protocol.

• Profile senior elite male & female players.
• Profile singles vs doubles matches.
• Profile 60 x 30 games.
• Use of GPS units (which are fitted with gyroscopes and accelerometers) could be used to give a truer reflection of the movement demands required in the game of handball.
• Utilising portable metabolic carts in conjunction with lactate analysis during games may give us more information on the metabolic demands required during matches.

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Medicine, 17, 76-82.
• Chin M, Steininger, Clark C.R, Wong A.S.K. (1995). Physiological profiles and sport specific fitness of Asian elite squash players. Br J Sports
Med, 29, 158–164.
• Faria, I. E., Lewis. F. (1982). Metabolic response to playing racquetball. Med Sci Sports 1-4.
• Francis, R.J., (1952). An analysis of certain time, motion, and time-motion factors in eight athletic sports. PhD Dissertation Ohio State
University.
• Loftin, M. (1986). Heart rate response during handball singles match-play and selected physical fitness components of experienced male handball players. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 36(2), 95-99.
• Mahoney, C.A. and Sharp, N.C.C. (1995). The physiological profile of elite junior squash players. In Science and Racket Sports (edited by T.
Reilly, M. Hughes and A. Lees), pp. 76–80. London.
• Montpetit, R. (1990). Applied Physiology of Squash, Sports Medicine, 10, 31-4.
• Montgomery, D. L., (1981). Heart rate response to racquetball. Physician Sportsmed, 9, (10), 59-62.
• O'Flynn, J., Baldwin, A. (2008). The history of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Canada. Trafford Publishing, p176.
• Pipes, T.V. (1979). The racquetball pro, a physiological profile. Physician Sportsmed (7:10), 91-94.
• Reilly, T. (1990). The racket sports. In Physiology of Sports (edited by T. Reilly, N. Secher, P. Snell and C. Williams), pp. 337–370. London.