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The dynamic of changes in the rules in team games materialize from research and debate between experts and coaches before being implemented by the International Federations. In Handball, the last changes occurred in 2016, and one of them was to substitute the goalkeeper with an additional field player allowing teams to play "empty goal" while using the additional field player. This study aimed to analyze and characterize the use of the 7 vs. 6 strategicaltactical option for the attack in the 2020 Men's European Championship. We also analyzed whether the game time and partial score influenced the use of 7 vs. 6 and its efficiency. Observational methodology and a mixed ad hoc instrument combining field format and category systems validated by experts were used. Data were taken from 28 matches involving teams in the first 12 positions in the 2020 Men's European Championship. The total number of offensive sequences in an organized attack method in 7 vs. 6 with an empty goal (n = 123) were analyzed. Sequential analysis techniques with lags, prospective and retrospective, and polar coordinate analysis were used. The results showed that (a) these solutions had poor efficiency, except for the Portuguese National Team; (b) teams using the 7 vs. 6 tactic option had no negative consequences or increased risk with the opponent response; (c) partial score influenced the decision to use 7 vs. 6 strategic option, and (d) game time was associated with 7 vs. 6 play options and detected patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyse dietary intake (macronutrients and micronutrients) in young female and male handball athletes. A transversal study was performed with young handball players from sub 16 and 18 Portuguese Handball Federation, who volunteered to participate in this study. Anthropometric (weight and height measure), nutritional intake (using food frequency questionnaire) and position in the game were evaluated. The final sample comprised 64 athletes (48.4% female and 51.6% male). The mean age was 16± 1 years, average body mass index was higher in females (24.1± 3.5kg/m2) than males (23.8± 3.0 kg/m²). Mean energy intake per day was significantly lower in females than males 2167.4± 1185.0 and 2952.9± 1315.8 kcal/day (p= 0.015, 95CI), respectively. According to the recommendations from food, most of the young handball athletes reported a generally higher dietary intake (protein intake was near to the upper recommendation limit; the carbohydrate intake was below and the fat intake higher) and a lower for some micronutrients. A process to identify the athletes that need nutritional support should be considered by handball coaches to optimise their performance and safeguard their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We characterized the physical and physiological profiles of high-level female Portuguese handball players and examined the relationships between their anthropometric characteristics, general motor performance and cardiopulmonary fitness. Twenty-four high-level female handball players with an average age of 23.6 ± 5.5 years, height of 173.6 ± 5.1 cm and body mass of 72.6 ± 9.1 kg volunteered to participate. A Pearson correlation test was used to assess the relationship between variables. Direct relationships were observed between the players' height and arm span (r = 0.741), as well as between their squat jump and countermovement jump performances with regard to body mass (r = 0.448 and 0.496, respectively). The 9 m jump shot has a large relationship with the 7 m standing throw (r = 0.786) and between left hand dynamometry and body mass index (r = 0.595). The 30 m sprint has a relationship with the 7 m standing throw (r = -0.526) and the 9 m jump throw (r = -0.551). Oxygen uptake has a relationship with the players' height (r = -0.482) and time limit (r = 0.513), while the fitness index has a relation to the players' height (r = -0.488) and arm span (r = -0.422). Our results should be considered when using physical testing to plan optimal physical training regimens in elite team handball., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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The main goal of this work was to analyze the effects of the space of practice in the perceived exertion of the students during the small-sided handball games. Participated in the study eight female students (15 ± 0.0 years old) and eight male students (18.25 ± 1.04 years old). The results demonstrate a tendency where the small-sided games with more space and less players, increased the perceived exertion of the students. Concluding is possible to confirm the pertinence of the task constraints for the session organization in order to achieve different exertion goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research is presented that analyzes the physiological demands of the backcourt, wing, and pivot playing positions during a male handball team's official matches which found that backcourt players and pivots performed more high-demanding actions per game than did the wings and also had higher mean and peak effective heart rates as well as percentage of total time intensities than the wing players.

The article discusses a study of the attributes of top team-handball players which indicates that a fitness model which considers body mass, sprint time, offensive power, ego-based motivational orientation, and the energy spent in handball activity can frequently predict the probability of an athlete becoming an elite team-handball player. Logistic regression analysis is mentioned.

The motivational orientation of an athlete aims to improve their skills (task) and getting a good result in a given competition (ego). Thus, the purpose of the present study was to compare players of one Portuguese team handball club. The independent variables were: competitive levels, years as competitors, time presence as player in the club and competitive position. The dependent variables were motivational orientations: task and ego. The sample consisted of 57 male athletes borne between 1977 and 1997. The Task and Ego Orientation Questionnaire in Sport (TEOSQp), validated by Fernandes and Vasconcelos-Raposo (2010) was used. Results revealed that the handball players in the club studied present high scores on both task and ego orientation with a higher score at the level of task orientation. The present results are not in accordance with previous studies. However they do not contradict consolidated theoretical proposal. Senior athletes presented higher scores in task orientation and lower on ego. Comparisons by years in competition, time presence in the club and competitive position in the do influence significantly the motivational orientation among this club team handball players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on research which was conducted to investigate the physical and physiological demands of elite team handball during match play. Researchers evaluated players during 10 matches. They found that handball is an intermittent exercise that primarily uses aerobic metabolism, combined with high-intensity actions that greatly tax anaerobic metabolism and that exercise intensity decreases from the first to the second half of the match, perhaps as a result of muscular fatigue.

The aim of this study was to analyse handball coaches’ perceptions of self-efficacy and recognition of training needs related to coaching competences according to their coaching experience, coach certification level and academic education. Two hundred and seven Portuguese handball coaches answered questionnaires that included a scale of self-efficacy and another of recognition of training needs. Data analysis started with an exploratory factorial analysis with Maximum Likelihood Factoring and Oblimin rotation. From the factors obtained, a One-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc multiple comparisons were applied. Coaches’ self-efficacy revealed coaching competences related to: annual and multi-annual planning; planning and guiding training and competition; coaching methodology; implementation of sport development projects and coach education and meta-cognitive competences. Coaches’ recognition of training needs revealed four main areas: planning and guiding training and competition; multi-annual planning; management of sports careers and coaching education and leadership. Although an independent relationship between coaches’ perceptions of self-efficacy and training needs was confirmed, they perceived themselves as having competences and highlighted training needs in all areas. Coaches’ perceptions of self-efficacy were influenced by their coach certification level, academic education and coaching experience. The study suggests that sport specificity within the social culture in addition to the precise sporting domain of action influence the perceptions of coaches about their self-efficacy and training needs as related to coaching competences and, therefore, should be considered in the coach education curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]