ATRIBUTOS MORFOLÓGICOS, CARACTERÍSTICAS FUNCIONAIS E DESEMPENHO COMPETITIVO EM JOVENS JOGADORES DE ANDEBOL [Morphological, physical attributes and match performance in young handball players]

The aim of this study was threefold: 1) to compare the morphological and physical attributes of the young players divided into two different maturational groups; 2) to  analyze the association between the morphological and physical attributes and the game performance of young players, taking into account their maturational state; and finally 3) to verify if the subjective coach’s opinion about the individual performance and players’ potential is influenced by players’ game performance and the morphological and physical attributes. The sample consisted of 40 young handball players divided into pre- and post-peak height velocity. The morphological and physical attributes of players from each group, as well as the association of these attributes with the competitive performance were analyzed and compared. The results confirmed the significant differences between both groups in all morphological characteristics and the results of physical assessment. It was found that the morphological and physical attributes associated with better competitive performance differ according to the maturation state of the players. The study confirmed the importance of maturational assessment in the interpretation of physical tests results, morphological assessments and competitive performance of handball players in the ages near the pubertal growth spurt.