Introduction: Handball matches place diverse physical demands on players, which may result in fatigue and decreased activity levels. However, previous speed-based methods of quantifying player activity may not be sensitive for capturing short-lasting handball-specific movements. Therefore, the aim was to examine activity profiles of a female handball team and individual player profiles, using inertial measurement units (IMUs). Development of fatigue, indicated by temporal or transient declines in activity, was of special interest. Methods: Match data was obtained from one female national team in nine international matches (n=85 individual player files), using the Catapult OptimEye S5 (Catapult Sports, Australia). Player Load™/min, an accelerometer-derived measure of intensity, was analyzed for 5- and 10-min periods. Team activity levels represent intensity of the players on the field in the given period (minimum one-min field time), and are presented as a percentage of their match average. Individual player activity levels are based on periods with a minimum of 60% field time, and are expressed as a percentage of their average in these 5-min periods. Magnitude based inferences were used to describe probabilities of substantial differences between single or pooled periods. Results: A high initial intensity was observed for team profiles (110% of match mean), and for players with 2 or more consecutive periods of play (107% of 5-min mean). Substantial declines in Player Load™/min were observed throughout matches for the team (91% of match mean in the least intense period), and for players with several consecutive periods of field time (90% of 5-min mean in the seventh period). Intensity increased substantially in the final five min of the first half for team profiles, and the first ten min of the second half were substantially lower than the corresponding first half period. Activity levels were substantially lower in the five min after a player`s most intense period, and were partly restored in the subsequent 5-min period. Conclusions: Declines as observed in activity profiles for the team and individual players may be indicative of temporal and transient fatigue during handball matches. Underlying mechanisms were not accounted for, yet situational factors and pacing strategies are suggested as possible contributing factors, based on previous team-sport studies.
© Copyright 2016 21st Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Vienna, 6. -9. July 2016. Veröffentlicht von University of Vienna. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. / Übersetzt mit https://www.DeepL.com/Translator