Handgrip Strength and Ball Velocity of Young Male and Female Handball Players

IntroductionSex and age, have an immediate relevance to the functioning ability of children and adolescents. Their performance in a variety of skills is improved with age, however, as it seems there is a wider overcompensation on the boys' performance than that of the girls Malina et al., 2005. The musculoskeletal development is one of the keys to the basic characteristics during childhood thus; the muscular action determines the functional requirements during childhood that are enforced on other organic systems (Neu et al., 2002). The handgrip is an important measurement of general health and is used as an estimator of the normal function as it is referred to as one of the most accurate clinical methods of estimating children's strength (Groslambert, Nachon & Rouillon, 2002). Moreover, the handgrip of a skilled arm in handball is important for the holding and throw of the ball. On the other hand, the ball's velocity in handball is a significant racing skill and seems to be a distinction between the most and the less successful athletes, especially during developing ages (Zapartidis et al., 2009). The greatest differences, considering sex, regarding the ball throw velocity , seem to appear near the ages of 12-13 years old, with boys increasing significantly their performance in relation to girls after the age of 14 years old (Zapartidis et al., 2011). Especially in young ages, when body height is not yet fully developed, the factors which mostly contribute in ball handling skill, is hand surface and handgrip strength.A research on Indian students regarding hand strength was conducted (Gandhi et al., 2010). 330 healthy children (males-females) 6-16 years old were measured on body height, mass, body mass index, five skinfolds, and handgrip strength on both hands.A study on results indicated a considerable correlation on both anthropometric parameters and handgrip strength for both hands. In an effort to define a simple prediction model, 100 athletes were examined (Hewson et al., 2010) using anthropometric characteristics. The research set independent variables as : body height, body mass, length of arm and forearm, wrist and hand circumference. Maximal handgrip strength was set as dependent variable. Results showed strongest correlation reference to hand circumference with handgrip strength and it was clearly predictable (R2-=0.624). A study on influence of basic anthropometric characteristics on handgrip strength was performed by Vinsapuu and Jurimae (2007). A sample of 193 basketball and handball players 1017yrs old was used. Significant strong correlation between anthropometric characteristics and fingers length with handgrip strength was found from this research. Apostolidis and Zacharakis (2015) used a sample of 106 basketball players 13-14yrs old, to measure the relationship between anthropometric characteristics, handgrip strength and selected technical skills. The research proved strong correlations between all anthropometric parameters and handgrip, whilst average strength correlations were observed between handgrip and the technical skills. Gandhi et al., (2010) in the process of studying a sample of 330 males and females 6-16years old, investigated the influence of body height, body mass, body mass index and five skinfolds on handgrip strength of both hands. Their study showed considerable correlation between anthropometric parameters and handgrip strength for both hands. Moreover, Hewson et al. (2010), evaluating a population of 100 subjects, they showed that amongst body height, body mass, arm/forearm length, wrist circumference, the variable with strongest correlation with handgrip strength, was the hand circumference.The aim of the current study was to compare the performance of handgrip strength and ball velocity between boys and girls of two different age groups (12 and 13 years) and consequently investigate the correlation between these two parameters.We assume that a) the difference of the performance at the velocity of the throw of the ball and the handgrip between the two sexes will be significantly greater at the age group of 13 years of age and b) there will be a significant positive correlation between handgrip and ball velocity. …