Physiological responses and activity demands remain consistent irrespective of team size in recreational handball

Nenad Stojiljković; Aaron Scanlan; Vincent Dalbo; Ratko Stankovic; Zoran Milanović; Emilija Stojanović

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2020.92516

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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1/2020
vol. 37

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abstract:

Original paper

Physiological responses and activity demands remain consistent irrespective of team size in recreational handball

Nenad Stojiljković

¹

,

Aaron Scanlan

²

,

Vincent Dalbo

²

,

Ratko Stankovic

¹

,

Zoran Milanović

^{1, 3}

,

Emilija Stojanović

^{1, 4}

Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia
Human Exercise and Training Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia
Science and Research Centre Koper, Institute for Kinesiology Research, Koper, Slovenia
Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Physiology, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia

Biol Sport. 2020;37(1):69–78.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2020.92516

Online publish date: 2020/02/07

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The aim of this study was to examine the impact of team size on acute physiological, perceptual, and activity demands of recreational handball to provide a better understanding for the potential prescription of recreational handball to achieve health benefits. Active, male college students (N=22) completed 3-, 4-, and 5-a-side handball game formats across three separate sessions following a repeated-measures, crossover design. Heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (BLa), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), distance covered, and frequency of accelerations/decelerations were monitored during games. Each game format elicited vigorous intensities with a mean HR in the range 82–85%HRmax and post-game BLa in the range 3.9–4.4 mmol·L-1. No significant differences (P>0.05) in absolute (ηp2=0.40), relative mean HR (ηp2=0.43), BLa (ηp2=0.16), total distance (ηp2=0.32), total accelerations (ηp2=0.23), or total decelerations (ηp2=0.23) were observed between game formats. A significant effect was observed for RPE (ηp2=0.51), where 3-a-side games elicited a higher RPE than 5-a-side games (P=0.03, large). Modifying player number has a negligible effect on the physiological and activity demands encountered during recreational handball games. Recreational handball consisting of 3–5 players imposes similar intermittent workloads, resulting in vigorous physiological responses concomitant with those recommended for overall health improvements as part of regular training.

keywords:

Physiological responses and activity demands remain consistent irrespective of team size in recreational handball

Nenad Stojiljković 1 , Aaron Scanlan 2 , Vincent Dalbo 2 , Ratko Stankovic 1 , Zoran Milanović 1, 3 , Emilija Stojanović 1, 4

Physical fitness, High-intensity interval training, Health promotion, Heart rate, Physical demands, Blood lactate concentration

Nenad Stojiljković

¹

,

Aaron Scanlan

²

,

Vincent Dalbo

²

,

Ratko Stankovic

¹

,

Zoran Milanović

^{1, 3}

,

Emilija Stojanović

^{1, 4}