The goal of this study was to analyze several anthropometric variables, to compare the motor and fitness performance of male and female handball players in two different age groups according to their APHV to establish the current morphological characteristics of a population of schoolchildren under 15 years old, who play handball as part of the curriculum.
With the same chronological age, athletes born in different biological periods can reciprocally move from the older to the younger group due to maturation and developmental processes associated with age differences.
The conclusion found by Brazo-Sayavera reveals that the maturity process, which is different between men and women, could be more advanced in the female gender [9]. This finding is in accordance with our results, which revealed a positive significant difference at A1 according to gender.
In addition, our study showed a significant age class difference between boys and girls of previous age. It found that the typical growth pattern is nonlinear based on different growth spurts that occur during youth and adolescence [10]; girls often have their first real growth spurt at the age of 13, while boys, on average, have their growth spurt at the age of 15.
For handball players, it was indicated that age and anthropometric characteristics are decisive in determining the success of the performance in youth and adult team handball [1].
It is essential to establish the body composition of athletes because components such as muscle and fat mass are related to performance.
In our study, girls were heavier in the second group, A2, and they showed the highest age class BMI. In contrast, we observed a non-significant gender difference in the first age group. This result was in accordance with Fernández-Romero who showed that BMI was typical in both genders [11].
Our study showed a significant positive difference between age classes and previous age observed in both genders. This is in contradiction with findings by Ferragut [12] that reported no differences in fat content and BMI values in top elite and elite players.
We found a positive significant fat-free mass gender difference from A1 years onward, with higher values for boys.
Several studies have mentioned that Fat-free mass regarding growth is an exciting parameter, and the fat-free mass increases in all age groups established from age 10 to age 14 [13, 14].
In addition, Aouichaoui showed that boys show performance improvements that extend into early adulthood [15]. In contrast, girls’ strengths tend to plateau around the time of puberty and then tend to decrease after that. An increased girls’ body fat percentage could explain this difference. This increase in body fat can lead to reduced agility, strength, and flexibility, which can have a negative effect on their performance. However, the fat percentage can influence sprint time and body power [16, 17].
The modern handball player needs to have pronounced longitudinal dimensions such as arm span. The arm span results indicate a positive significant age gender and age class difference with previous age.
In accordance with our results, some studies indicate a close relationship between the position in the field and arm span that the professional players could have [18], a higher and greater control of the ball depends on a higher hand size or a handgrip strength. Furthermore, Palm opening showed a positive significant age gender and age class difference with previous age.
According to the result, players could have a moderate association between larger hand size or greater handgrip strength and control of the ball, and an enormous wingspan affects higher occupation of space in defensive and offensive actions [19].
Factors of success and competitive performance in handball are primarily determined by anthropometric parameters [19, 20]. Further, it has been reported that anthropometric variables, e.g., BMI, fat-free mass, standing and sitting height, leg length, and mass, increased significantly with age. This rise could be explained by the growth and maturity processes related to age [21].
In order to reposition oneself during the transition between phases of attack and defense, as well as during fast breaks and offensive breakthroughs, the ability to sprint and change direction at high velocities is an essential determinant of team handball performance [22], it is considered as one of the fastest team sports [3].
Our speed tests revealed a novel and significant age class pattern across both genders, with boys consistently demonstrating the best performance values.
Our results indicate that, during the 20m speed test, there was a statistically significant gender difference with best performance values for boys. This difference was accompanied by a positive difference in the age class with previous age in both genders. In accordance with our results, the study by Lidor showed that male and female young players testing for the selection report significant differences in 20-meter sprints compared to elite and sub-elite players of the same age [23]. In terms of performance, handball is characterized by several high-intensity actions during matches, including direction changes [24]. In this regard, during competitions, handball players may perform more than 30 changes of direction tasks [25].
Our study showed in agility T-test a positive significant gender and age class differences with best performance values for boys. However, Wagner developed and validated a game-based performance test for measuring team-handball-specific agility and sprinting performance [26]. The test was shown to be valid and reliable, but results about differences in sex, age, and experience level are lacking.
Further, the agility T-test showed a positive difference at the A2 age class with previous age in both genders. Fernandez-Fernandez suggest that U15 athletes demonstrated a higher change of direction deficit than the U13 players [27]. These data agree with previous studies on team-sport athletes (comprising both professional and youth athletes), which showed that powerful athletes tend to present higher change of direction deficits [28]. Previous studies have shown that the performance of repeated sprints can be maintained if the duration of the pauses is more than ten times the length of the exercise period [29].
The repeated sprint ability (RSA) reported in our results a statistically positive difference at the age class with previous age in girls and only for the percent sprint decrement in boys. This was accompanied by positive significant gender differences with best performance values for boys at best and mean sprint and a non-significant difference related to the gender in the percent sprint decrement. Regarding other studies, Buchheit found that the sprinting time was influenced by age, sex, and skill level in team-handball players [30]. Movements in team handball are characterized chiefly by short accelerations (0–3 m) with stops (30–40 per game) and changes in direction (30–40 per game) and less by sprints (10–30 m) over the entire game field constituting only 1–3% of the total playing time per match [31]. Therefore, the ability of athletes to make repeated sprints and direction changes is essential to handball performance. Coaches thus need specific training methods to develop these attributes [32].
A well-developed aerobic system allows team handball players to tolerate the high intensities and physiological load of the daily training and enhance recovery between training sessions and competitions [33].
Considering aerobic endurance, our study's values of maximum oxygen consumption indicate a positive significant gender difference with higher values for boys. This is in accordance with the findings of Saavedra who reported that the values of maximum oxygen consumption can differ based on age and gender [34].
Regression analyses indicate that among the parameters analyzed, the most significant predictor of performance in handball is APHV. This means that the maturity process is the most powerful factor in the performance of handball players. These results are consistent with the finding that biological maturity significantly affects players' physical performance.
In conclusion, the results of the present study showed a progressive increase in all body composition parameters, mainly influenced by age, as well as an improvement in speed, agility, and cardiorespiratory capacity as the category increased.
The handball age category presented an indirect mediating for the evaluation of young athletes' performance, which is mainly based on physical fitness and anthropometric parameters, which give a clear picture of the athletes' quality and form the criteria for their promotion to a higher level and to be considered in the talent identification.