ANTHROPOMETRIC, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND KINEMATICS ANALYSIS OF THE JUMP SHOT OF FEMALE HANDBALL PLAYERS - A CASE STUDY OF THE ISLAMIA UNIVERSITY BAHAWALPUR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: This study was designed in two poles, 1st to examine the kinematic parameters of the handball jump shot and 2nd to compare the anthropometric, and physical fitness of novice and skilled female handball players of the university level.
Methods: This study design was cross-sectional, and a purposive sampling method was adopted for selecting the participants. The sample consisted of (n = 20) novice, and (n = 20) university female handball players. The selected variables were standing broad jump, vertical jump, flexibility, 30-m dash, agility, stride length, stature, body mass, arm length, upper arm girth, leg length, chest girth, waist girth, hip girth, thigh girth, calf girth, hand length, handbreadth and shoulder breadth, pelvic breadth, transverse breadth, elbow and knee breadth, handgrip and arm span, left and right knee angle, left and right elbow angle. An Independent t-test was applied to examine differences between skilled and novice players in kinematics and anthropometric variables.
Results: Results showed the skilled female players were significantly higher than the novice players in the following as right elbow angle at the start of movement (<. 03), left elbow angle at the start of movement (<. 00), right knee angle at the start of movements (< .03), stride length at release (< .01), 30-meter dash (< .04), handgrip strength(< .02), agility (< .03), forearm girth (< .03), thigh girth (< . 03) and arm span (< .04).
Conclusion: It was concluded the higher angle of elbows, right knee along with more prolonged stride increase the movement capacity of skilled female handball player while attempting the jump shots than novice female players. On the other hand, the anthropometric and fitness measures as arm span, thigh girth, running speed, handgrip strength, and agility increase the performance of skilled players than the novice. The female handball coaches may enhance the performance of novice players by focusing on the specific training of extension and flexion of elbows and stride movement as well as enhancing the physical fitness of female handball players. Future studies would focus on the training of handball players to increase the jump shot performance of players.