## 1 Introduction
Despite its practical utility, no previous studies have assessed the relationship of the GBPT to the Yo-Yo IR test, which is a test that has a significant popularity both in research and in world of sport practice. The 30-m single sprint performance test (SSPT) is a general test, which is often used to test elite team handball players' ability to sprint without changes of direction and including a ball. The linear 30-m SSPT was chosen as sprint test in the present study, since it is the most applied sprint test when scientific studies have used general tests to examine the sprint ability of team handball players [23; 24; 25; 26]. In addition, it is easy to standardize. Thirty meter is the longest linear distance that team handball players may sprint during match-play (wing players). However, most sprints are of shorter distance and usually performed with changes of direction [1,11]. Consequently, it is relevant to compare this version of a sprint test to the other two tests in the present study. Moreover, it can also be applicable to investigate the potential differences in test results between the above-stated tests in relation to the different field playing positions (wings players, backcourt players and pivots) to establish the sensibility of the tests, the ability to capture small differences in physical performance between individual players in the various test categories. This study was designed to examine possible relationships between the GBPT including similar movements and intensities as in competition, a 30-m SSPT and the Yo-Yo IR1 test for elite team handball field players. Thus, the aims of the present study were: (A) To determine the relationships between the physical and physiological test results from the GBPT, the separate linear 30-m SSPT and the Yo-Yo IR1 test (level 1) in female adult top-elite field team handball players in order to establish the significance (validity) of the Yo-Yo IR1 test for measuring relevant elements for team handball match-play. (B) To compare and evaluate the physical and physiological test results from the aforementioned tests, in relation to the different playing positions in female adult top-elite field team handball players. Gaining knowledge about these aspects may provide insight into the value of more general tests such as the 30-m SSPT and especially the Yo-Yo IR test regarding specifically the latter's ability to measure the effects of relevant physical training and to use the results for planning of optimal physical training regimens in elite team handball. It was hypothesized that significant relationships between the locomotive test results from the various tests would be found, i.e., when players are performing linear running without ball handling as in fast retreat, 30-m sprint and during the Yo-Yo IR1 test, but that no significant correlations between the GBPT and the Yo-Yo IR1 test and the 30-m SSPT, respectively, regarding technical match-related activities for female adult top-elite field team handball players would be demonstrated in the present study. In addition, that significant differences in test results between the various field playing positions would reveal that the GBPT is a more suitable test to measure differences in all kinds of relevant parameters of individual team handball players, thereby demonstrating a high capability to distinguish differences between individual top-elite field team handball players' physical performance. Overall, it was hypothesized that the GBPT is better than the Yo-Yo IR1 test to measure both locomotive and technical match-related activities for female adult top-elite field team handball players.