The Physical Characteristics and Performance Profiles of Female Handball Players: Influence of Playing Position

The purpose of the study was to compare physical characteristics and performance values between different playing positions in professional female team handball. Twenty-nine female handball players were categorized as centers (n=6), pivots (n=9), wings (n=8) or goalkeepers (n=16). Measurement of physical characteristics including body height and mass, body mass index; knee muscle strength, scores on the lower limb vertical power (vPower), lower and upper limb performance and trunk extension endurance were determined and compared across playing positions. The goalkeepers had higher knee strength as compared to pivots, wings, and centers (p <.001,eta p2 >.20). Pivot players achieved higher vPower than wings, centers, and goalkeepers (p=.011,eta p2-.759). In addition, goalkeepers and wings achieved higher vPower than centers (p <.001,eta p2=.759). No significant differences were observed in trunk extension endurance and upper limb performance results according to playing positions (p >.05,eta p2 <.20). The pivots and wings had better lower limb performance than goalkeepers and centers (p <.001,eta p2=.682-.701). The present study concludes that depending on their play positions, there are differences in terms of physical characteristics, knee muscle strength, vertical power, and lower extremity performance in elite female handball players. These results could help improve coaches' knowledge of elite female teams in the particular in the country where the study was conducted and in others of similar characteristics.