The Relationship Between Anthropometric Characteristics, Chronological Age, and Training Age with Speed, Agility, and Explosive Power in Handball Players
Source abstract
Abstract
(1) Background: Research examining the combined influence of anthropometric characteristics, chronological age, and training age on motor performance in handball is limited. Given the sport’s demands and the participation of both adolescent and adult athletes, understanding these relationships is essential for talent identification, personalized training, and long-term athlete development. This study aimed to explore how these variables affect motor performance indicators such as speed, agility, and explosive power. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 29 male handball players. Anthropometric data (height and body weight), chronological age, and training age were collected. Motor performance was assessed using a 30 m sprint, a vertical jump test, and an agility test. (3) Results: Chronological age showed a strong positive correlation with training age (r = 0.819), and moderate correlations with height, body weight, vertical jump, agility, and sprint time. Training age was moderately correlated with vertical jump (r = 0.465) and agility (r = 0.439). Height and body weight were positively associated with sprint time. BMI exhibited low but consistent correlations with all motor tests. Regression analysis revealed that height significantly predicted sprint performance (β = 0.401, p = 0.033), while BMI was not a significant predictor. No significant regression models were found for agility or vertical jump performance. (4) Conclusions: The results suggest that both chronological and training age influence certain aspects of motor performance in handball players. Height may serve as a useful predictor of sprint ability, but anthropometric indicators such as BMI appear insufficient for explaining performance in agility or explosive power tasks. These findings support the use of multidimensional and individualized approaches in athletic assessment and training design.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Sports Performance and Training · Sports injuries and prevention · Physical Education and Training Studies
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Faculty of Sport Sciences, Düzce University, Düzce 81010, Türkiye
Institute of Health Sciences, İnönü University, Malatya 44050, Türkiye
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, 8000 Niš, Serbia
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700588 Iasi, Romania
Center of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania
Department of Individual Sports and Kinetotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania
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