Aerobic power, anaerobic power, and vertical jumping ability over an entire competitive period in young elite male handball players

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of the study was to examine the in-season variations in aerobic power, anaerobic power, and vertical jumping ability in young elite handball players in a laboratory setting.

Methods The study involved 13 athletes (age: 19.9 ± 0.7 years, body mass: 90.0 ± 12.1 kg, height: 186.3 ± 6.3 cm, body fat percentage: 13.7 ± 4.8%), all members of the young national handball team. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) performance (peak power [PP], mean power [MP], fatigue index [FI]), and vertical jumping ability(countermovement jump [CMJ]) were assessed on 3 occasions during the competitive period (beginning [T1], middle [T2], end [T3]).

Results Only slight and not significant changes were observed throughout the tested period for VO2max (T1 = 52.04 ± 4.30; T2 = 49.31 ± 3.96; T3 = 51.68 ± 5.38 ml ∙ kg–1; T1 to T3: –0.24 ± 5.83%, p > 0.05) and CMJ values (T1 = 46.99 ± 7.98; T2 = 46.57 ± 5.87; T3 = 48.15 ± 6.58 cm; T1 to T3: –3.26 ± 6.88%, p > 0.05). Similarly, all parameters evaluated during the WAnT showed small variations (PP: T1 to T3: 1.11 ± 5.67%; MP: T1 to T3: –0.04 ± 4.34%; FI: T1 to T3: 3.43 ± 9.20%; p > 0.05).

Conclusions The indices of aerobic power, anaerobic power, and vertical jumping ability remained relatively constant among the tested group of young elite athletes throughout the handball competitive period.