Differences in Physical Potential Between Professional Female and Male Handball Players in Romania

The research aims to analyze the differences that occur between two groups of athletes at the physical potential level. Handball is a spectacular indoor game whose evolution has led to a change in the physical involvement of practitioners by increasing the speed of play and increasing the volume of the specific effort. Thus, the physical component of a professional handball game has gained increasing importance, often the better-prepared team from this point of view succeeds in imposing itself on the opponent. The research subjects are the components of two professional handball teams from the first league of Romania, the first consisting of 16 female players (28.06 +/- 3.99 years, 176.6 +/- 6.93 cm, 71.23 +/- 8.01 kg) and the second 19 male players (23.74 +/- 4.13 years, 191.0 +/- 7.25 cm, 95.83 +/- 13.97 kg). Following the application of a physical test battery to evaluate the body composition, reaction speed, running speed, agility, strength, muscle endurance, mobility, lactate anaerobic capacity and aerobic capacity, the two batches of athletes were compared to detect the differences between the two professional types of practitioners of professional handball. The battery pursued a characterization as complete as possible, by determining the level of the main motor skills, both simple and combined. The physical tests have been sustained during the pre-competitive period of each team, before they start training. Both female players and male players had experience in handball at the time of the evaluation, practicing the sport discipline of 16,50 +/- 4,16 years, respectively 10,89 +/- 4,38 years. At the same time, we try to outline a physical profile of the handball player from the first Romanian league, an important aspect for the growth of future generations. Children and young people with perspective need milestones to become better and have real success in international representations.