Toward an Anthropometric Pattern in Elite Male Handball

We investigated the anthropometric characteristics associated with specific handball skills in competition. The body anthropometric profiles differ significantly among the playing positions in handball due to the specific tasks. The aim of this study is to identify the anthropometric patterns for each playing position by collecting data from elite male handball players. To determine the anthropometric profile of the elite handball players for each playing position, we used descriptive statistics for every indicator in order to identify the optimal patterns for elite handball players from the top-four ranked teams at the most important competitions over a period of 18 years (2004–2021). Over time, the anthropometric indices evolved: the average height increased (from 190 to 192.6 cm) but less than weight increased (from 90.5 to 95.28 kg), and these affected the body mass index (increase from 25.2 to 25.67). The novelty of our study is that we identified an anthropometric pattern for each playing position and for all teams in elite male handball. Our study also covered a period of 18 years to give our results more accuracy and reliability.

Handball has a complex character due to the acyclic movements and situations that appear asking players performing tasks according to the playing position both in attack and in defense. The modern handball game requires players to perform a high number of short, high-intensity specific actions. Based on these considerations, we can state that the features of anthropometric and motor particularities have a high degree of individualization according to the playing position, and it is interesting to determine how personal predispositions can compensate or substitute particular requirements of the playing position.
Somatic and skills indicators of the players can be essential in achieving certain tasks within the game, as in other game situations, they can be a barrier having a limited effect [31,32]. The anthropometric characteristics are determinant in order to efficiently apply the specific handball skills in competitions [33]. In the studies with a small number of participants, the anthropometric data were collected directly by measuring handball players [42][43][44][45][46][47][48]. In the studies with a large number of subjects [41,49], the anthropometric data were obtained indirectly, without involving the researchers in the assessment process.
Based on the somatic requirements on high performance selection in handball, we can say that, in terms of height, only 25% of the population would meet the standard. The weight and the essential skills (coordination, speed and power) can compensate for a lower height [31]. The aim of this study is to identify the anthropometric patterns for each playing position by collecting data from elite male handball players.

Data Collection
This is a cross-sectional study where we use a descriptive analysis of the anthropometric indices of players at handball top competitions (E.C., W.C. and O.G.). The information concerning the anthropometric characteristics (weight and height) was collected from the EHF and IHF websites that present all information, including the team roster (age, anthropometric data, club and international matches). The data were obtained through an informative portal (EHF and IHF website; these two entities being the organizers of the competitions) without the necessary knowledge about the methodology of its collection in order to assess its reliability and validity [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64].

Subjects
Our study collected data from 974 players participating at O.G., W.C. and E.C., as components of the teams ranked in the first four places at each competition. Each team had between 16 and 18 players listed for competition.
Inclusion criteria: male handball players from top-four ranked teams at O.G., W.C. and E.C. in the period 2004-2021. Exclusion criteria: female or male handball players from teams ranked out of the top four at O.G., W.C. and E.C. Due to the fact that this covers a period of 18 years, the data for the same player were used as long as he participated in these top handball competitions.

Statistics
Descriptive statistics were applied in order to identify the anthropometric patterns (height, weight and body mass index) for each playing position (wing, backcourt, center back, pivot and goalkeeper). The study collected information for almost 20 years (2004-2021). At O.G., there were 12 teams involved in the final stage; at W.C., 24 teams/ 32 teams (since 2021); and at E.C., the number rose from 16 to 24 teams (since 2020). The data were collected only from the players of the teams placed in the first four places at each analyzed competition.
To determine the anthropometric profile of the elite handball players for each playing position, we used descriptive statistics by applying the average, standard deviation, minimum value and maximum value for every indicator in order to identify the optimal patterns for elite handball players. We applied linear regression to find significant relationship between the variables used in our study using IBM SPSS Statistics 26. The coefficients for regression equation and tests of significance were the most important data obtained by applying this statistical method.

Results
Starting with O.G. 2004, data were collected for anthropometric characteristics of the male handball players who participated at O.G., W.C. and E.C. in order to identify the specific patterns for each playing position. We calculated the means for each parameter, standard deviation, minimum value and maximum value for each playing position and for all players. All collected data are presented in Table 2.   All the collected data allowed us to find useful information concerning anthropometric characteristics of the elite handball players for each playing position. The synthetic information for all analyzed competitions is presented in Table 3. We applied linear regression to determine the significance of the collected data for the indicators used in our study for each playing position and for all players. The coefficients for regression used to identify the degree of significance are shown in Table 4. This statistical method was applied for a total of 18 situations. The statistical significance was achieved in 16 out of 18 situations: three for p < 0.05. 6 for p < 0.01, three for p < 0.001, and four for p < 0.0001. Statistical significance (Table 4) was not obtained only in two situations (both for goalkeepers). Significance for * p < 0.05. ** p < 0.01. *** p < 0.001. **** p < 0.0001.
In this context, we were able to identify the anthropometric pattern for each playing position, including all players as a whole by determining the lower and the upper limits for each of them (Table 5).

Discussion
The wings were shorter (average height-1.852 m, lower limit-1.80 m and upper limit-1.90 m) and also the lightest players (84.477 kg, minimum-79 kg and maximum-90 kg). The BMI average was 24.625, meaning they were normo-ponderal with a lower limit of 23.3 and an upper limit of 25.9. For all wing indicators, there were obtained statistical significance for p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 (Figure 1) [14,35,41,42,65,66].
Centerbacks are shorter than pivots, backcourts and goalkeepers but higher than wings with an average value of 1.903 m for height (limits between 1.85 and 1.95 m); the weight average was 92.697 kg (minimum-86 kg and maximum-99 kg); and the BMI average values was 25.609 (accepted range between 24.1 and 27.1). The level of significance for centerback indicators were for p < 0.01 (weight and BMI) and p < 0.001 (height) (Figure 1) [14,35,41,42,65,66].
The overall analysis of the pattern for a top handball player found that the average height was 1.926 m with optimal limits between 1.86 m and 2 m; the weight average was 95.28 kg with 86 to 105 kg accepted limits; and the average BMI was 25.677 with recommended limits between 24 and 27.3. We also obtained statistical significance for p < 0.001 (height) and p < 0.0001 (weight and BMI) (Figure 1) [14,47-49,67,68].  Pivots (1.971 m average height, minimum-1.92 m and maximum-2.02 m) and backcourts (1.956 m, minimum-1.91 m and maximum-2.01 m) were the tallest and also the heaviest players, pivots-105.096 kg with accepted limits between 98 and 113 kg and backcourts-98.553 kg with optimal values between 92 and 105 kg. The average BMI for pivots was 27.207 and 25.588 for backcourts. For pivots, there was significance for p < 0.01 (height) and for p < 0.001 (weight and BMI) (Figure 1) [14,35,41,43,65,66].
Goalkeepers were close in value to pivots and backcourts (height average-1.944 m and accepted limits between 1.90 and 1.99 m, weight average-97.315 kg and optimal values between 90 and 104 kg and BMI average-25.745). At linear regression, we obtained statistical significance only for the BMI of goalkeepers (Figure 1) [14,35,45,48,65,66].
Centerbacks are shorter than pivots, backcourts and goalkeepers but higher than wings with an average value of 1.903 m for height (limits between 1.85 and 1.95 m); the weight average was 92.697 kg (minimum-86 kg and maximum-99 kg); and the BMI average values was 25.609 (accepted range between 24.1 and 27.1). The level of significance for centerback indicators were for p < 0.01 (weight and BMI) and p < 0.001 (height) (Figure 1) [14,35,41,42,65,66].
The overall analysis of the pattern for a top handball player found that the average height was 1.926 m with optimal limits between 1.86 m and 2 m; the weight average was 95.28 kg with 86 to 105 kg accepted limits; and the average BMI was 25.677 with recommended limits between 24 and 27.3. We also obtained statistical significance for p < 0.001 (height) and p < 0.0001 (weight and BMI) (Figure 1) [14,[47][48][49]67,68].
We consider the identified pattern in our study for each playing position valid as, in 16 out of 18 situations, we obtained statistical significance at linear regression, and the data were collected for a period of almost 20 years from 974 top male handball players (Figure 2). Over time, the anthropometric pattern changes for each playing position compared to those in 1970 and 1980. The values for height and weight increased with an average value of 5%. The most important evolution trend was for pivots where the height increased by 7% and the weight by 20% [31,39].
Comparing the results to recent studies concerning the anthropometric pattern for top male handball players, there are no differences [32,35,40,67,68], and the players belonging to teams from the first half of the final ranking in top competitions are in the optimal limits for each indicator [41,58].
An interesting fact is that the pivots were the tallest (197 cm) and heaviest handball Over time, the anthropometric pattern changes for each playing position compared to those in 1970 and 1980. The values for height and weight increased with an average value of 5%. The most important evolution trend was for pivots where the height increased by 7% and the weight by 20% [31,39].
Comparing the results to recent studies concerning the anthropometric pattern for top male handball players, there are no differences [32,35,40,67,68], and the players belonging to teams from the first half of the final ranking in top competitions are in the optimal limits for each indicator [41,58].
Every year, the I.H.F. awards the world's best players; five goalkeepers, four centerbacks and two backcourts were nominated for the analyzed period. In that period of time, Nicola Karabatic and Mikkel Hansen were nominated three times. The world's best players were in the limits of the anthropometric pattern identified in our study. The exception being the goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik, who exceeded the upper limits. This aspect confirms the validity of the anthropometric pattern determined by our study (Table 6).

Conclusions
The anthropometric pattern was found to evolve over time: the average height increased (1.4%) but less than the average weight (4.5%), thereby, influencing the average body mass index (2.7%). More weight in the case of elite handball players typically means more muscular mass required by the modern handball player in order to be effective in game actions during the competitions.
Anthropometric characteristics, including the body composition and the somatotype of the elite handball players, are specific to the playing position in order to allow them to efficiently act in competitions. Among these indicators, the specific preparation of handball players is essential to achieve competition goals and to be efficient in specific actions during the game.
The limitations of the study include access to data concerning only height and weight and indirect data collection from the official website of the International Handball Federation and European Federation. For the future, it will be important to collect data for other variables, such as the body composition, skinfold thickness and body circumference. Among other factors, the anthropometric pattern is essential when a coach wants to select a player for his team, and it is optimal to choose a player that meets these requirements concerning anthropometric patterns.
The novelty of our study is that we identified an anthropometric pattern for each playing position and for all teams in elite male handball, and our study covered a period of 18 years to give our results more accuracy and reliability. These identified patterns will be subject to change over time, and further studies are necessary in order to keep these anthropometric models updated.