title: Physical and physiological characteristics in male team handball players by playing position - Does age matter?
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the variation in physical and physiological characteristics according to playing position in adolescent and adult male team handball (TH) players.
  
  
  
  Adolescent (N.=57, aged 14.9±1.4 yr) and adult (N.=39, 26.6±5.7 yr) players were examined for anthropometric characteristics, somatotype and body composition, and performed the physical working capacity test, a force-velocity test, the Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT), sit-and-reach test, handgrip strength test, squat jump (SJ), countermovement vertical jump without (CMJ) and with arm-swing, and a 30-s Bosco test. Eccentric utilization ratio (EUR) was calculated as the ratio CMJ to SJ.
  
  
  
  In adult players, there were significant differences between wings and the other positions with regard to anthropometric and body composition parameters (body mass, -17.9% to -13.2%; height, -5.3% to -4.3%; and fat-free mass, -13.7% to -9.9%) and anaerobic power assessed by WAnT (peak power, -20.5% to -15.2%; and mean power, -20% to -14.8%); however, these characteristics did not differ significantly in adolescents, in which the only statistically significant difference was found between goalkeepers and the other positions in EUR (+8.1%).
  
  
  
  Therefore, the differences in physical and physiological characteristics between playing positions are age-dependent. As adult players in this study were taken from players competing in the top Greek league, findings could serve as a base for talent identification and development for future studies. Moreover, knowledge about positional differences might enhance the ability to make tailored position-specific training programs among adult and adolescent players in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Cultural Education, Hellenic Army Academy, Athens, Greece - pademil@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport, Centre for Practical Knowledge, University of Nordland, Bodø, Norway
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ingebrigtsen
authors.affiliation: Research Centre in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, University Institute of Maia, ISMAI, Maia, Portugal
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Póvoas
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Chester, Chester, UK
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.affiliation: Area of Corporal Express, Faculty of Humanities and Education Sciences, University of Jaen, Jaen, Spain
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torres-Luque
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D013177:Sports