## 4 Discussion  
The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of playing position and player role on the internal match load and well-being status of female handball players after official matches. The main findings associated with playing positions indicated that (1) backs registered moderately more match RPE compared to pivots; (2) wings experienced moderately more fatigue in MD+1 than backs, and in MD+2 compared to backs and pivots; (3) wings reported moderately more muscle soreness in MD+1 and MD+2 than backs and pivots; and (4) wings reported moderately greater Hooper index scores in MD+1 and MD+2 than backs. Furthermore, the results connected to player roles were as follows: (1) starters exhibited higher values of match RPE than non-starters; (2) starters experienced moderately more fatigue, more muscle soreness, and greater Hooper index scores in MD+1 compared to non-starters. Additionally, regardless of the playing position and the role, all of the players reported moderately less fatigue and lower Hooper index scores in MD+2 compared to MD+1. In relation to playing positions, backs registered moderately more match RPE compared to pivots. Similarly, previous research has observed that pivots reported the lowest match RPE (i.e., internal load) compared to the other positions [8]. These differences between pivots and backs could be explained by various reasons: (1) the rotation strategies, because in many teams pivots are the only players involved in the offensive phase (i.e., they accumulate less playing time) due to their limited defensive ability or to fatigue management [8]; (2) pivots registering the lowest values of total distance, high-speed running distance, and PlayerLoad in official matches [8,22]; (3) backs experiencing a higher acceleration-deceleration load due to their primary role in creating the advantages and spaces during the positional phase of the attack, which is marked by a continuous 'fixation movement' [17]. Therefore, handball coaches should design and implement specific rotational strategies for back players to minimize the appearance of fatigue, physical and cognitive, and to avoid a decline in their performance during the last stages of the game. Figure 4: Differences according to player role on well-being status. Significance level is indicated by the number of symbols: one symbol for \(p<0.05\), two for \(p<0.01\), and three for \(p<0.001\). \({}^{*}\) = Significant differences between starters and non-starters. \(\dagger\) = Significant differences vs. MD+1. This is particularly important for center-backs, because they have a crucial role, to'set-up the tactics', during the positional phase of the attack. Regarding well-being responses, wings experienced the highest values of fatigue and muscle soreness in MD+1 and MD+2 compared to all other playing positions. It is challenging to align our findings with earlier research due to insufficient scientific evidence comparing well-being fluctuations according to playing positions in handball. However, a potential rationale for this discrepancy might lie in the interplay of two factors: (1) wings have a critical role in counter-attacks and, consequently, covered higher total distance and high-speed running distance compared to the other positions [17; 29]; (2) wings covered more high-intensity braking distance than the other playing positions [29]. As previously warned, this fact is linked to strong eccentric contractions that cause significant neuromuscular fatigue and tissue damage, particularly when these large braking forces are not dissipated and distributed effectively [30; 31]. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the average muscle soreness and fatigue values reported by the pivots are lower than those of the wings, we must not forget that this position is characterized by constant maximal isometric strength actions against opponents (e.g., blocks and screens), which could generate high levels of muscle damage and fatigue.