Impact of Context on Physical Performance in Women's Handball Matches
Author Information
Author(s): García-Sánchez Carlos, Navarro Rafael Manuel, Nieto-Acevedo Raúl, de la Rubia Alfonso
Primary Institution: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Hypothesis
Are fluctuations in physical performance affected by contextual factors in women’s handball matches?
Conclusion
Physical performance in women's handball fluctuates throughout matches and is significantly influenced by the level of the opponent and playing positions.
Supporting Evidence
- The highest values of total distance, high-speed running, and PlayerLoad were registered during the first 5 minutes of the match.
- Physical performance decreased throughout the match, particularly in the last phases.
- Low-level teams showed higher total distance in the first 10 minutes compared to middle-level teams.
- Wings had the highest physical performance, while pivots had the lowest across all phases.
Takeaway
In women's handball, players perform best at the start of the match and get tired as the game goes on, especially depending on who they are playing against.
Methodology
The study used a retrospective observational design to analyze physical performance during 5-minute phases in 13 official matches.
Potential Biases
The observational nature of the study limited control over player rotations.
Limitations
The study only monitored home matches and did not include data from specialist players or goalkeepers.
Participant Demographics
Twenty-two female players from the Spanish 2nd Division, with varying ages and playing positions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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