Using Statistical Data from Competitions for Improving Training Quality among Elite Handball Players

Background: Handball as a team sport is characterized by the execution of open skills in many different situations that may arise in the context of the game. Using statistical data and cross-evaluation are methods shown to be a support tool for sport teams management, in the context of assessment of the team game performance of handball players. Measuring the overall performance of the game allows relative strengths and weaknesses to be identified based on data analysis (Trninic & Papic, 2009; Gutierrez & Jose, 2013).

Aim: To optimize the quality of handball practices by using data analysis, and performing cross-evaluation based on data derived from the Men`s European Handball Federation (EHF) Euro 2020 (ECH).

Methods: Descriptive statistics were performed in order to evaluate the performance abilities (technical skills) of each national team in the tournament (Euro 2020). T-test (2 tailed) performed in order to compare the top six teams (T6T) (rank 1-6) instead of the bottom six teams (B6T) (rank 19-24). Significance was determined on 95% (p=0.05).

Results: Data analysis was carried out on two parameters – those related to the effectiveness of shots (concerning the players) and those related to set attacks (concerning the teams). T6T executed their 6m shots (6M), wing shots (WG) and Fastbreak (FB) shots more effectively compared to the B6T (70% Vs 61%, 63% Vs 55%, and 85% Vs 65%, p=0.05, respectively). In the attack category, the total attack effectiveness of the T6T teams was 57% compared to the B6T with 49% (p=0.00). Considering the attack with one more player, the T6T improved their efficiency in attack by 12% comparing the B6T (3%), the difference was significant (p=0.03). With one player less, the attack effectiveness of T6T was reduced by 3% compared to the B6T, reduced by 8%. The difference was significant (p=0.04).

Discussion: In 2014, Ashkenazi found significant differences between the top and the bottom national teams (NT) regarding shots from the WG position. The same trend was noted over seven major international events. The same was observed in the last ECH 2020, where the T6T exhibited more effective shots in zones closer to the goal (6m, WG position, FB), and these were more effective with one more and one less player compared to the B6T.

Conclusion and Recommendation: The training program must contain shooting from all positions, with specific shooting from 6m, the WG position, and Fastbreak. According to the effectiveness with one more/less player, it is clear that decision-making drills should be considered in every scenario in the practice, including situations with one more/less player.