## 2 Materials and Methods
### General Tests  
To determine vertical jump height, the subjects performed three SJs from a squatting position (knee angle of 90\({}^{\circ}\), without countermovement) and three CMJs from an upright position on a portable Kistler force plate (Kistler Force Plate, Kistler, Winterthur, Switzerland). Arm swing was not allowed during the SJ and CMJ. Jump height of the SJ and CMJ was calculated by the vertical velocity of the center of mass. Finally, all subjects performed three DJs, without arm swing, from a 40 cm box, with maximum effort (maximal jump height and minimal ground contact time). A jump was invalid if the subjects used their arms (SJ, CMJ, and DJ), performed a countermovement before jumping (SJ) or jumped vertically from the box (DJ). Data for the SJ, CMJ, and DJ tests were recorded and analyzed offline using Matlab (Matlab2020a, MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA). The maximal value of the three repetitions (1 min recovery between the repetitions) was subsequently used in the statistical analysis. In the standing long jump test, the subjects stood with both feet tiptoeing behind the painted starting line and jumped as far forward as possible (Figure 1A). Arm swing was allowed during the jump. Jump distance was defined as the measured distance between the starting line and the heel of the rear foot of the last contact. A jump was considered invalid if the subjects touched the ground with their hands or lost balance. The maximal value of the three repetitions, with at least three minutes of recovery between repetitions, as the whole group performed each heat one after the other, was subsequently used for statistical analysis. In the single-leg three-jump test (3 er jump test), the subjects had to stand on one leg with the designated foot (tiptoe) behind the starting line (painted line). When ready, theyhad to perform three consecutive maximal hops with the designated leg, landing on both feet (Figure 1A). Arm swing was allowed during the 3 er jump test. Jump distance was defined as the measured distance between the starting line and the heel of the rear foot of the last contact. A jump was invalid if the subjects touched the ground with their hands, the second foot, or lost balance. The maximal value of the three repetitions (with at least three minutes of recovery between repetitions) was subsequently used for statistical analysis. In the standing throw test, the subjects had to throw the ball into the center of the team handball goal with maximal intentional velocity and no opposition (Figure 1A). Maximum ball velocity was measured with a radar gun (Perform Better, Warwick, UK) located behind the goal. The maximum value of the three repetitions (with at least three minutes of recovery between repetitions) was subsequently used for statistical analysis. In the 20 m sprint test, each subject started with their front foot pittoeing behind the starting line, which was a painted line half a meter behind the start timing gate (as shown in Figure 1A). They then spritted as fast as possible to the finish line, 20 m away. The start time was self-determined. Two light beams (Micro Gate Witty, Micro Gate, Bolzano, Italy) placed at the start and finish line were used to measure sprinting time. Each subject repeated the sprint test twice, with at least three minutes of recovery between the two sprints. The fastest 20 m sprinting time was subsequently used for statistical analysis. Regarding the guidelines of the National Team Handball Federation, we used the Federation's modified \(t\)-test for our study. Each subject performed a warm-up heat (80% of maximum effort) and two maximum effort repetitions (with at least three minutes of recovery between repetitions), with the fastest time used for calculations.