Relationships between anthropometric parameters and overarm throw in elite beach handball

Abstract

Purpose. beach handball is a physically demanding sport. the aim of the study was to establish the relationships between anthropometric characteristics and overarm ball speed, a key performance factor. Methods. Overall, 11 male players from the Spanish beach handball national team were recruited. throw speed was assessed in 3 throw types: standing throw (St), standing throw after two steps (rSt), and jump throw with a run-up and self-spin (rSSt). Pearson correlation was used to determine the correlation between variables. Magnitudes were evaluated qualitatively with magnitude-based inference, and the effects of anthropometric variables on the throw tests were analysed with stepwise multiple regression. Results. Maximal throw speed was 25.64 ± 4.14 m ∙ s-1 for St, 23.71 ± 4.24 m ∙ s-1 for rSt, and 24.83 ± 5.49 m ∙ s-1 for rSSt. Large positive correlations were found between throw speed and middle, ring, and little finger lengths (P4 polygon) (r = 0.66 and 0.61 for St and rSSt, respectively). Very large (r = 0.77) and large (r = 0.68) correlations were observed between St and rSt, respectively, and elbow breadth. these results were likely positive for St: P4 (76/24/0), elbow epicondyle distance (EED) (91/9/0); and for rSt: EED (79/21/0); and possibly positive for rSt: P4 (68/32/0). St and rSt were predicted by P4 in 44% and by combining P4 and finger span FS1 in 68%. Conclusions. St and rSt ball speed in beach handball was related to specific hand/elbow anthropometric characteristics which can be easily measured.