VARIATIONS OF MUSCULAR STRENGTH AND POWER IN MALE HANDBALL PLAYERS DURING AN ENTIRE SEASON

Abstract

Competition performance in handball depends on various individual skills and interaction with teammates. Technical and tactical efficiency are probably the most influential factors, while physical characteristics represent the prerequisite to attaining high level of competition performance. The purpose of the study was to determine the variations of muscular strength and power in male handball players during an entire season. The study was carried out on a sample of14 male handball players, members of the handball club, the participant of the Serbian male handball league during the 2014/2015 season. Measurements were taken four times during the period between the 6th and the 18th round of the handball league. The investigation protocol consisted of anthropometric measurements, determinations of the one-repetition maximum and assessments of muscular power. The obtained data indicate that no significant variations of muscular strength and power in male handball players occur during a competitive season. Besides, this study showed that players who compete in the Serbian male handball league have similar anthropometric characteristics, but significantly lower values of muscular strength and power when compared to top level European male handball players, and that it is necessary to pay much more attention to resistance training during the preparation period. Low values of the first measurement, which was the closest to the preparation period, are the probable reason for the non-existence of major variations during the competitive season.