Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, Ghent, 9000 Belgium.
J Sports Sci. 2013;31(12):1344-52. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2013.781663. Epub 2013 May 8.
It was the goal of this cross-sectional study to examine differences in maturity, anthropometry and physical performance between youth handball players across different playing positions (i.e. goalkeeper, back, pivot and wing). Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), accounting for biological maturation, was used to assess positional differences in 472 male youth handball players from three age groups: U14, U15 and U16. Differences in age at peak height velocity were found in all age groups. Backs were significantly more mature than wings in U14 and U15 and than wings and pivots in U16. Furthermore, backs are overall taller, have a bigger arm span and perform best on tests for strength, agility and speed, especially in the U15 age group. Therefore, it can be concluded that youth players with the most advanced maturation status and the most favourable anthropometry and physical fitness scores, are consistently positioned in the back position. Players with a less advanced maturity status and an overall smaller stature are placed on the wing or pivot positions. In conclusion, it seems that anthropometrical and maturational characteristics are used by coaches to directly and/or indirectly select players for specific field positions. This strategy is risky since anthropometry and maturity status change over the years.
本研究旨在通过跨学科研究，分析不同位置（守门员、后卫、中锋和边锋）的青年手球运动员在成熟度、人体测量学和身体表现方面的差异。采用多元协方差分析（MANCOVA），考虑生物学成熟度，对来自三个年龄组（U14、U15 和 U16）的 472 名男性青年手球运动员的位置差异进行评估。在所有年龄组中，发现了达到最高身高增长速度的年龄差异。在 U14 和 U15 年龄段，后卫比边锋更成熟，在 U16 年龄段，后卫比边锋和中锋更成熟。此外，后卫在身高、臂展方面整体更大，在力量、敏捷和速度测试中表现最佳，尤其是在 U15 年龄段。因此，可以得出结论，成熟度最高、人体测量学和身体素质得分最有利的青年运动员始终处于后卫位置。成熟度较低、整体身材较小的运动员被安排在边锋或中锋位置。总之，教练似乎会根据运动员的人体测量学和成熟度特征，直接或间接地选择特定的场上位置。但这种策略存在风险，因为人体测量学和成熟度会随着时间的推移而变化。
