Effects of an entire season on physical fitness in elite female handball players.

PURPOSE: Sixteen elite female handball players were studied to examine the effects of an entire season on anthropometric characteristics, physical fitness, and throwing velocity.

METHODS: One-repetition-maximum bench press (1RMBP), jumping explosive strength, power-load relationship of the leg and arm extensor muscles, 5- and 15-m sprint running time, endurance running, and handball throwing velocity were assessed in four periods. Individual volumes and intensities of training and competition were quantified for 11 activities.

RESULTS: During the season, significant increases (P < 0.05-0.01) occurred in fat-free mass (1.8 +/- 1.2%), 1RMBP (11 +/- 7.4%), bench press (12-21%) and half-squat (7-13%) muscle power output, vertical jumping height (12 +/- 7.2%), throwing velocity (8 +/- 5.9%), and a significant decrease in percent body fat (9 +/- 8.7%). No changes were observed in sprint and endurance running. Significant correlations (P < 0.05-0.01) were observed between time devoted to games and changes in velocity at submaximal loads during bench press actions, as well as between changes in muscle velocity output of the upper and lower extremities and changes in throwing velocity. Changes in percent body fat or body mass correlated (P < 0.01) positively with changes in maximal strength and muscle power.

CONCLUSION: The handball season resulted in significant increases in anthropometric characteristics, physical fitness, and throwing velocity. The correlations observed suggest the importance of including explosive strength exercises of the knee and elbow extensions. Special attention may be needed to be paid to the mode of body fat loss, to increase endurance capacity without interfering in strength gains. Official and training games may be an adequate stimulus for enhancing certain physical fitness characteristics in female elite handball players.