POSITION-SPECIFIC ANTHROPOMETRIC PROFILES: 2011 WOMEN'S 19 EUROPEAN HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Transcription

1 POSITION-SPECIFIC ANTHROPOMETRIC PROFILES: 2011 WOMEN'S 19 EUROPEAN HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP František URBAN 1, Róbert KANDRÁČ 2, František TÁBORSKÝ 3 1 Member of Union of University Handball Teachers / EHF (SVK) 2 University of Presov, Faculty of Presov, Presov, (SVK) 3 Charles University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague (CZE) / chairman of Methods Commission EHF Introduction Research findings on the relation of body composition and playing performance in elite male and female handball players of various age categories have shown inter-position heterogeneity in terms of anthropometric and somatotype profiles (Rogulj, et al. 2005; Čavala, Katić, 2010; Urban, Kandráč, 2010; Tůma, Vozobulová, 2011; Vila, et al. 2011; Urban, Kandráč, Táborský, 2011). Aim The purpose of the cross-sectional study was to determine and compare anthropometric profiles in top level female handball players aged years from the aspect of national teams and individual playing positions. Material and methods The research sample consisted of 207 players of 13 national teams (except Norway, Sweden and Austria) that participated in the 2011 Women's 19 European Handball Championship (W19 ECh) in Netherlands. At the time of the championship, the players were 17 to 19 years old. The players were divided into position-related groups: GKs goalkeepers: n = 35, Ws - wings: n = 53, CBs - center backs: n = 30, Bs - backs: n = 58 and PVs - pivots: n = 31. Anthropometric measurements were carried out during the championship. We measured the following anthropometric parameters: parameters of longitudinal dimension: body height, span (D-D) body mass parameters of transversal dimension: biacromial breadth (shoulder width, A-A) palm breadth (palm) biepicondylar breadth of the humerus (HB) biepicondylar breadth of the femur (FB) parameters of circumferential dimension: upper circumference (biceps) calf circumference (calf) fore circumference (fore) body indexes: percent subcutaneous fat (fat %), span to body height ratio. The circumferential measures were taken in flexed and tensed condition of the individual muscles. The percent subcutaneous fat was calculated using the method by Pařízková (1962), which is based on the measurement of skinfold thickness on 10 body landmarks: face, chin, chest I, chest II, triceps, back, abdomen, hip, thigh and calf. The tables show average values: x, standard deviations: SD, minimum values: min and maximum values: max in selected anthropometric parameters used to determine differences between both national teams and individual playing positions.

2 Results and discussion GOALKEEPERS - mean body height over 180 cm was found in RUS goalkeepers only (see Table 1). Out of 35 GKs, only 10 goalkeepers were found to be taller than 180 cm. The body height values of 24 GKs fell in the range from cm to cm. The highest positive ratio of span to body height was recorded in ESP goalkeepers cm who were also the shortest GKs of the championship. Positive differences between span and body height ranged from 0.25 cm to 6.5 cm. On the other hand, negative differences ranged from 0.34 cm to 6.67 cm. Mean shoulder width exceeding 40 cm was found in CRO, SRB, NED and FRA goalkeepers. In total, 14 out of 35 GKs demonstrated shoulder width over 40 cm. An interesting finding concerns ESP goalkeepers. They were the shortest with highest span values (body height 173 cm D-D 178 cm: + 5 cm; body height cm D-D cm: + 8 cm). At the same time, ESP goalkeepers were also heaviest with both the highest percent subcutaneous fat and the highest mean values of transversal and circumferential parameters. A striking finding was that the difference in mean body mass between ESP and RUS goalkeepers equaled 29.6 kg. The tallest GKs of the championship: RUS were also the lightest. With regard to body mass and percent fat, GKs were heterogeneous. Mean palm breadth over 8 cm was found in FRA, DEN, ESP, ROU and SLO. In total, 14 GKs out of 35 measured were found to have palm breadth exceeding 8 cm. The biggest difference in femur breadth was recorded between ESP and NED goalkeepers: 1.92 cm. Mean femur breadth over 10 cm was found in NED, RUS, HUN and POL. ESP goalkeepers were found to dominate in the circumferential parameters. Overall, ESP goalkeepers demonstrated highest mean values in 7 parameters out of 11 measured. On the contrary, RUS goalkeepers demonstrated the lowest mean values in 5 dimensions. Tab. 1 Anthropometric profiles: Goalkeepers GKs (n=35) height D D A A 1. DEN NED SRB ROU CRO ESP RUS FRA GER POL HUN SLO UKR X SD min max

3 WINGS - DEN wing players were the tallest, while the Ws from NED were shortest (see Table 2). The difference between the highest and the lowest mean body height value equaled 9.83 cm. Positive ratio of span to body height was found in 5 national teams: ROU, FRA, GER, HUN and SLO. The highest difference between span and body height was found in a FRA wing player: cm (body height cm, D-D cm). Out of 53 Ws, 29 wing players were found to have negative difference between span and body height ranging from 0.5 to 0.8 cm. Relatively longer s are beneficial for players in the wing playing position especially when shooting under more difficult conditions: shooting after contact with an opponent or when shooting from a great angle. Mean shoulder width over 39 cm was recorded in 5 national teams. Almost half of the Ws measured demonstrated shoulder width exceeding 39 cm. Similarly to body height, DEN wing players were found to be the heaviest. The difference between 'the heaviest' Ws of DEN and 'the lightest' Ws of UKR equaled kg. The highest mean value of percent subcutaneous fat was found in NED wing players. Percent fat over 10 % was recorded in 5 national teams. In total, 22 Ws were found to have percent subcutaneous fat higher than 10 %. The greatest difference in mean palm breadth was recorded between POL and UKR wing players: 0.57 cm. Mean palm breadth over 8 cm was found in 13 Ws only. Mean values of biepicondylar breadths were highest in DEN wing players. The difference between the lowest (UKR) and the highest mean value (DEN) in humerus breadth equaled 1.78 cm. In femur breadth, DEN wings demonstrated mean femur breadth 1.4 cm higher compared to their HUN counterparts. The lowest mean values in circumferential dimensions were recorded in UKR wing players. Overall, DEN wing players demonstrated the highest mean values in 7 out of a total of 11 measured. On the contrary, the lowest mean values in 7 anthropometric parameters were found in UKR wings. Tab. 2 Anthropometric profiles: Wings Ws (n=53) height D D A A 1. DEN NED SRB ROU CRO ESP RUS FRA GER POL HUN SLO UKR X SD min max

4 CENTER BACKS - mean body height over 180 cm was found in CBs of POL and CRO (see Table 3). Only three CBs were taller than 180 cm. The values of body height of 25 CBs fell in the range from cm to cm. Positive span to body height ratio was found in the CBs of FRA, ROU, RUS, NED, CRO and POL. The highest mean positive difference between span and body height: + 5 cm was recorded in FRA center backs. The highest span to body height ratio of cm was recorded in a FRA center back. The greatest difference in shoulder width was found between NED and SLO center backs: 4 cm. Mean shoulder width over 40 cm was recorded in NED center backs only. The lowest mean shoulder width was found in SLO center backs, who demonstrated mean value not exceeding 37 cm. Average values of body mass were heterogeneous. mass values of 12 CBs fell in the range from 60 to 69.9 kg. The same was found in the range from 70 to 79.9 kg. The greatest difference in the percent subcutaneous fat was found between SRB and ESP center backs: 9.43 %. In total, 22 CBs fell in the range from 7.7 % to 14.5 %. Mean palm breadth over 8 cm was found in CRO, RUS and FRA national teams and 10 CBs out of a total of 30 measured. The differences in humerus breadth were not significant. Mean femur breadth over or equaling 10.1 cm was recorded in 7 national teams: DEN, SRB, CRO, RUS, FRA, GER and POL. Mean femur breadth not exceeding 10 cm was found in 10 national teams and 13 center backs. With regard to the overall placing in the championship, it should be noted that DEN center backs as part of the winning team did not dominate in any of the anthropometric parameters measured. The lowest mean values in 9 parameters out of 11 measured were recorded in ESP center backs. Overall, CBs were the lightest with the lowest volume of subcutaneous fat as well as transversal and circumferential measures. High mean values of circumferential dimensions with relatively low amount of subcutaneous fat were found in the CBs of CRO, RUS, GER and ROU. Tab. 3 Anthropometric profiles: Center backs CBs (n=30) height D D A A 1. DEN NED SRB ROU CRO ESP RUS FRA GER POL HUN SLO UKR X SD min max

5 BACKS - only the Bs of HUN, POL, GER and NED demonstrated higher mean values over the overall body height average (see Table 4). In total, 20 back players were taller than 180 cm. Negative difference between span and body height was found in FRA, POL and RUS and 26 CBs overall. Positive span to body height ratio ranged from 0.37 cm (HUN) to 4.5 cm (SLO). The highest ratio of span to body height of cm was found in one of the UKR backs. Of all playing positions, Bs demonstrated the highest mean value of shoulder width. Overall, 20 Bs were found to have shoulder width over 40 cm and 18 CBs over 41 cm. The biggest difference in body mass was recorded between the Bs of HUN and FRA: 9.35 kg. Mean body mass over 76 kg was recorded in HUN, SLO, CRO and GER and 19 back players overall. With regard to percent subcutaneous fat, mean fat percentage exceeding 10 % was found in NED, POL, FRA and GER and 24 Bs overall. Mean fat percentage over 12 % was recorded in ESP, CRO and HUN. In total, 24 Bs were found to have fat percentage over 12 %. With regard to the parameters of body mass and percent subcutaneous fat, Bs were the most homogeneous playing position. The biggest difference in palm breadth: 0.65 cm was found between FRA and SLO back players. Overall, palm breadths of 44 Bs out of 58 measured fell in the range from 7.6 cm to 8.4 cm. There were minimal differences in biepicondylar breadths with respect to the final placing of individual national teams. The difference in mean humerus breadth between FRA and GER back players equaled 0.53 cm. DEN back players demonstrated the highest mean value of femur breadth compared to the lowest mean value of the NED back players who placed 2 nd. The difference between the highest and the lowest mean value of femur breadth equaled 0.86 cm. The biggest differences in the circumferential parameters were as follows: biceps 3 cm (SLO SRB), calf 3.25 cm (HUN, CRO and FRA) and fore 1.13 cm (GER UKR). High values of circumferential parameters with relatively low volume of subcutaneous fat were recorded in POL, GER, ROU and DEN back players. Tab. 4 Anthropometric profiles: Backs Bs (n=58) Height D D A A 1. DEN NED SRB ROU CRO ESP RUS FRA GER POL HUN SLO UKR X SD min max

6 PIVOTS - among the tallest PVs of the championship were ROU, DEN, RUS, POL and FRA pivots (see Table 5). Mean body height over 177 cm was found in 11 PVs. The span to body height ratio was positive in 7 national teams. The positive difference between span and body height ranged from 1.15 cm (RUS) to 8.33 cm (FRA). One of the FRA pivots was 172 cm tall with span cm, which equals the difference of 14.5 cm. Out of all playing positions, PVs were found to have the second highest mean value of shoulder width. Mean shoulder width over 40 cm was recorded in UKR, POL and CRO pivots. Overall, 9 PVs were found to have shoulder width over 40 cm. Mean shoulder width exceeding 41 cm was found in the PVs of FRA, DEN, GER and 10 pivot players overall. Among the heaviest PVs at the championship were POL, DEN, SRB and RUS pivots. In total, body mass values of 22 PVs fell in the range from 70.6 kg to 83.8 kg. The biggest difference in the percent subcutaneous fat was recorded between the PVs of DEN and CRO: 6.25 %. PVs of 10 national teams were found to have fat volume higher than 13 %. Overall, the fat percentages of 21 PVs fell in the range from 12 % to 17 %. An interesting finding was that DEN pivots had the highest mean fat percentage. The players occupying this playing position were among the heaviest of all playing positions. Mean palm breadth over 8 cm was found in 5 national teams. Of 31 PVs measured, palm breadth exceeding 8 cm was recorded in 16 players. There were minimal differences in the biepicondylar breadths of the humerus and the femur with respect to the placing of individual national teams. The lowest mean values of circumferential parameters were found in the PVs of NED national teams. On the contrary, the highest mean circumferential dimensions were recorded in HUN pivots. Overall, the lowest values in 6 anthropometric parameters of 11 measured were found in NED pivots. Tab. 5 Anthropometric profiles: Pivots PVs (n=31) height D D A A 1. DEN NED SRB ROU CRO ESP RUS FRA GER POL HUN SLO UKR X SD min max

7 Position-related differences in anthropometric profiles The average values (see Table 6) show that the greatest difference in body height was found between Bs and Ws: 8.6 cm. The same finding was found in span, where difference between Bs and Ws equaled 9.68 cm. Of all playing positions, negative difference between span to body height was recorded in Ws and CBs. The highest positive span to body height ratio equaling 1.19 cm was found in PVs. Mean shoulder width over 40 cm was found in Bs and PVs. Similarly to body height and span, the lowest mean values of shoulder width were recorded in Ws and Bs. Tab. 6 Position-related anthropometric profiles Playing height D-D A-A positions Goalkeepers Wings Center backs Backs Pivots With regard to percent subcutaneous fat, mean value lower than 10 % was recorded in Ws. The playing position with lowest body mass was the wing position, while the heaviest playing position was the pivot position. This finding corresponds with mean values of percent subcutaneous fat. The lowest mean values of palm breadth and humerus breadth were found in Ws. Overall, the highest mean values of transversal and circumferential dimensions were found in Bs and PVs, while the lowest ones were recorded in Ws. As shown in Table 6, Ws demonstrated the lowest mean values in 10 anthropometric parameters of 11 measured. The highest mean values were recorded in 7 out of 11 anthropometric parameters. Conclusions The purpose of the cross-sectional study was to determine inter-team and inter-position differences in anthropometric profiles. In goalkeepers, results showed dominance of ESP players in 7 out of 11 anthropometric parameters. Their dominance was evident especially in transversal and circumferential measures. On the contrary, RUS goalkeepers demonstrated the lowest mean values in 5 out of 11 parameters measured. In wings, there was a high degree of relation between final placement in the championship and mean values of anthropometric parameters. The wings players from DEN were found to have the highest mean values in 7 out of 11 anthropometric parameters. Contrary to the DEN national team, UKR wings demonstrated lowest mean values in 7 parameters of 11 measured. In center backs, there was no evident relation of final placement and mean values of anthropometric parameters. Contrary to goalkeepers, the center backs of ESP were found to have the lowest mean values in 9 anthropometric parameters especially in transversal and circumferential dimensions. In backs, there was high rate of heterogeneity in terms of relation between placement and mean values of anthropometric dimensions. Paradoxically, the highest mean values in 9 parameters were observed in teams that finished in 11 th to 16 th place. On the other hand, 10 out of 11 lowest mean values were recorded in teams that finished in 1 st to 10 th place. In pivots, lowest mean values of anthropometric parameters were observed in the 2 nd team of the championship NED. Pivots of NED were found to have the lowest values in 6 out

8 of 11 parameters measured. The data showed no evident relation between final placing and individual values of parameters measured. With regard to position-specific differences in anthropometric profiles, greatest differences were found in 6 anthropometric parameters: body mass, percent subcutaneous fat, palm breadth, humerus breadth and all circumferential parameters between wings and pivots. The highest number of lowest values in anthropometric parameters was recorded in wings. The differences between wings and backs were found in body height, span, shoulder width and palm breadth. References Čavala, M., Katić, R Morphological, Motor and Situation-Motor Characteristics of Elite Female Handball Players According to Playing Performance and Position. In Coll. Antropol. ISSN , 2010, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp Pařízková, J Rozvoj aktivní hmoty a tuku u dětí a mládeže. Praha: Státní zdravotnické nakladatelství, p. Rogulj, N., Srhoj, V., Nazor, M., Srhoj, L., Čavala, M Some Anthropologic Characteristics of Elite Female Handball Players at Different Playing Positions. In Coll. Antropol. ISSN , 2005, Vol. 29, No. 2, pp Tůma, M., Vozobulová, P Somatic Characteristics of Selected Youth Female Players by Czech Training Centres. In EHF Scientific Conference: Science and Expertise in Handball (Scientific and practical approaches). Vienna: EHF, ISBN , pp Urban, F., Kandráč, R Kategorizácia somatotypov v hádzanej z hľadiska hráčskych postov. In Sborník příspěvků z mezinárodní vědecké konference. Pohyb člověka. Základní a sportovní motorika, Diagnostika a Analýza. Ostrava: KTVŠ PF OU v Ostravě, ISBN , pp Urban, F., Kandráč, R., Táborský, F Position-Related Changes in Anthropometric Profiles of Top Male Handball Players: 1980 and In EHF Scientific Conference: Science and Expertise in Handball (Scientific and practical approaches). Vienna: EHF, ISBN , pp Vila, H., Manchado, C., Abraldes, A., Alcaraz, P., Rodriguez, N., Ferragut, C Antrhopometric Profile in Female Elite Handball Players by Playing Positions. In EHF Scientific Conference: Science and Expertise in Handball (Scientific and practical approaches). Vienna: EHF, ISBN , pp