Author(s): NOUTSOS, K., MELETAKOS, P. , Institution: NATIONAL & KAPODISTRIAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS, Country: GREECE, Abstract-ID: 271

INTRODUCTION:
The high demands of handball mean that athletes must be in top physical condition, so body composition is a key factor in their athletic performance.
METHODS:
Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between body composition and sprint performance of adolescent handball players. Methods: The sample consisted of 60 elite junior handball players all members of the Greek Junior National Teams. The measurements included body height (cm), body mass (kg), and five skin folds thicknesses (5SKFS) (mm) (biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac and calf). Body mass index (Kg/m2), fat mass percentage (%), fat free mass (kg), fat mass (Kg), and sum of 5SKFS (mm) were also calculated. The precise anatomical sites of measurement by the respective somatometric instruments and the measurement procedures were all carried out according to Norton et al., 2000. Sprint time was recorded at 5, 10 and 30 m. The Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between all parameters. A stepwise multiple regression analysis with sprint performance as the dependent variables and body composition indices as potential predictors was carried out.
RESULTS:
Results: The 5 m sprint time correlated positively with fat mass percentage (%), fat free mass (kg), fat mass (Kg), and sum of 5SKFS (mm) (r = 0.296, p = 0.05; r = 0.275, p = 0.05; r = 0.345, p = 0.01; r = 0.325, p = 0.05 respectively). The 10 m, 30 m Sprint times correlated positively with fat mass percentage (%), fat mass (Kg), and sum of 5SKFS (mm) (r = 0.359, p = 0.01; r = 0.371, p = 0.01; r = 0.379, p = 0.01 respectively), (r = 0.374, p = 0.01; r = 0.358, p = 0.01; r = 0.390, p = 0.01respectively). Prediction models for the performance of sprints performance showed that body composition could explain 10-18% of cases (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION:
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the body composition of elite junior handball players may affect sprint results.