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Introduction: Although evidence-based injury prevention programs are available in youth handball, their implementation in practice remains insufficient. This gap emphasizes the need for a better understanding of the behavioral determinants, facilitators, and barriers among youth handball coaches. Objectives: To gain a profound understanding of youth handball coaches' behavioural determinants and adher- ence to an injury prevention exercise programme in youth community handball. Methods: We used a qualitative study-design. Data were collected from 18 semi-structured interviews with hand- ball coaches who participated in a randomized controlled trial, comparing the effectiveness of an online and on-site implementation strategy (11 coaches) versus an online-only strategy (7 coaches) in enhancing adherence to an injury prevention exercise program. The interview guide was based on The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) behaviour change model, addressing barriers, facilitators, and behavioural determinants influencing the implementation process. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: All participants recognized the importance of injury prevention; however, they had different levels of adherence implementing the HAPPY-program. 6 overall themes were identified influencing the implementation process positively or negatively; 1) coaches' knowledge, skills and preferences, 2) player skills and motivation 3) practical setting, 4) injury prevention club culture, 5) onsite expert support from health professionals and 6) social support among coaches. We found no major differences in coach responses between the two randomized implemen- tation strategy groups. Instead, adherence to the implementation was strongly influenced by personal autonomy, as well as environmental factors such as the availability of resources/facilities, social support and culture. Conclusion: Adherence to an injury prevention program was largely dependent on pre-existing factors, such as the coaches' personal beliefs, skills, resources, and the environmental factors surrounding them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this cohort study is to estimate the influence of position, category, and maturity status on the incidence and pattern of injury in handball players, across two seasons. Injury registration from 164 players per season (12-27 years) was conducted, and players were categorized into youth (133) and adults (31), and per position: 27 goalkeepers, 67 backs, 70 wings and pivots. Maturity status in youth players was also measured by testicular volume on clinical examination (32 immature, 101 mature). 190 injuries occurred during 34 221 hours of exposure. Injury incidence in youth was 6.0 per 1000 total hours [CI 95%, 4.8-7.2] (14.9 match [9.7-20.1] and 3.7 training hours [2.7-4.6]; n= 142 injuries), and in adults 6.5 per 1000 total hours [4.4-8.6] (22.2 match [8.8- 35.6] and 3.0 training hours [1.3-4.6]; n=48 injuries). There were significant differences in knee (P=0.01) and cartilage injury (P=0.05) according to playing position. There were significant differences according to age category in ankle (P=0.03), head (P=0.01), thigh (P=0.05) and muscular injury (P= 0.02), and apophysitis (P=0.04) for biological maturity state. Adult handball players had more ankle and muscle injuries than youths. Backs and centre backs (2nd line) had more knee and cartilage problems. A higher incidence of apophysitis was found in immature youth players.

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The aim of this cohort study is to estimate the influence of position, category, and maturity status on the incidence and pattern of injury in handball players, across two seasons. Injury registration from 164 players per season (12-27 years) was conducted, and players were categorized into youth (133) and adults (31), and per position: 27 goalkeepers, 67 backs, 70 wings and pivots. Maturity status in youth players was also measured by testicular volume on clinical examination (32 immature, 101 mature). 190 injuries occurred during 34 221 hours of exposure. Injury incidence in youth was 6.0 per 1000 total hours [CI 95%, 4.8-7.2] (14.9 match [9.7-20.1] and 3.7 training hours [2.7-4.6]; n= 142 injuries), and in adults 6.5 per 1000 total hours [4.4-8.6] (22.2 match [8.8- 35.6] and 3.0 training hours [1.3-4.6]; n=48 injuries). There were significant differences in knee (P=0.01) and cartilage injury (P=0.05) according to playing position. There were significant differences according to age category in ankle (P=0.03), head (P=0.01), thigh (P=0.05) and muscular injury (P= 0.02), and apophysitis (P=0.04) for biological maturity state. Adult handball players had more ankle and muscle injuries than youths. Backs and centre backs (2nd line) had more knee and cartilage problems. A higher incidence of apophysitis was found in immature youth players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every country develops and creates its own models and strategies for handball development. These models are based on the country-specific conditions for achieving success of its handball clubs or national teams. The actions of the countries for fulfilling these goals can be seen through implementation and development of policies and legislation for support or regulation of activities of sporting organizations. Most of the governments of the developed or developing countries are investing in elite sporting centres in order to improve the conditions for sportsman for national or international competition. The governments are financing national sport organizations. They organize sport events like European or World championships or they are financing sporting infrastructure for the previously mentioned goals. The experiences from applying these models and strategies from the countries that have major success in handball or in sport generally, can create additional value in the Macedonian handball model in order to continue and improve its results. Analysis of the handball models in several countries with major success of national handball teams show that they have different elements and different systems that obviously show results. One of the first and most common element for all of the models is working with young handball players and achieving great results in the competitions for these categories that forms the basis for senior national teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between performance measures of the lower-limb and repeated shuttle-sprint ability (RSSA) in elite adolescent handball players. Twenty-two male handball players (age: 17.7 ± 0.3 years) participated in the study. Subjects underwent measurements of lower-limb maximal strength (1-RM half back squat), explosive power (force-velocity test), jumping ability (squat and counter-movement jumps), sprinting velocities over the first step (VS) and the first 5 m (V5) of a 15 m sprint, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, Level 1. The players were tested for RSSA using a protocol of 6 repetitions of maximal 2 x 15-m shuttle sprints with 180° turns (~6 s) departing every 20 s. RSSA results were evaluated in three ways: best time in a single trial (RSSAbest), decrement (RSSAdec) and total time (RSSATT). The correlations of RSSA with the assorted fitness measures varied considerably. The RSSATT and RSSAdec were positively associated with 1-RM half back squat (r = 0.78 and r = 0.68 respectively; p< 0.01). Significant correlations were also found between RSSATT and RSSAbest and absolute peak power of the lower limb (r = -0.81 and -0.66, respectively; p<0.01). There was a moderate correlation between first step sprinting velocities and RSSATT (r = -0.71; p< 0.01). The RSSA test score has a moderate to large association with other explosive power measurements in elite adolescent handball players. RSSA may provide a useful composite index on responses to training or rehabilitation, and is very suitable for monitoring athletic performance of the lower-limbs of elite adolescent handball players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of improving and raising athletic performance and achievement, demands knowing and evaluating the level of the individual or the group, which requires the existence of a proper reference to judge whether the performance and achievement level is as required or below the requirements. The study aimed at recognizing the type of reference norms that handball trainers lean on in evaluating performance and achievement of young players in Jordan. For this purpose a questionnaire has been distributed to 32 trainers in Jordan. The results showed a trend in using the individual reference more than the social reference, and that the age and experience of the trainer affects the type of reference norms used. The aged and experienced trainers were using individual reference norm more, and also the trainers who were interested in results (achievement) tended to use the individual reference norms more than the social one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]