Sprint Mechanical Properties in Handball and Basketball Players

Purpose: To quantify possible differences in sprint mechanical outputs in handball and basketball players according to playing standard and position. Methods: Sprint tests of 298 male players were analyzed. Theoretical maximal velocity (v(0)), horizontal force (F-0), horizontal power (P-max), force-velocity slope (S-FV), ratio of force (RFmax), and index of force application technique (D-RF) were calculated from anthropometric and spatiotemporal data using an inverse dynamic approach applied to the center-of-mass movement. Results: National-team handball players displayed clearly superior 10-m times (0.03, +/- 0.02 s), 40-m times (0.12, +/- 0.07 s), F-0 (0.1, +/- 0.2 N.kg(-1)), v(0) (0.3, +/- 0.2 m.s(-1)), and P-max (0.9, +/- 0.5 W.kg(-1)) than corresponding top-division players. Wings differed from the other positions in terms of superior 10-m times (0.02, +/- 0.01 to 0.07, +/- 0.02 s), 40-m times (0.07, +/- 0.05 to 0.27, +/- 0.07 s), F-0 (0.2, +/- 0.1 to 0.4, +/- 0.2 N.kg(-1)), v(0) (0.1, +/- 0.1 to 0.5, +/- 0.1 m.s(-1)), P-max (0.7, +/- 0.4 to 2.0, +/- 0.5 W.kg(-1)), and RFmax (0.6, +/- 0.4 to 1.3, +/- 0.4%). In basketball, guards differed from forwards in terms of superior 10-m times (0.03, +/- 0.02 s), 40-m times (0.10, +/- 0.08 s), v(0) (0.2, +/- 0.1 m.s(-1)), P-max (0.6, +/- 0.6 W.kg(-1)), and RFmax (0.4, +/- 0.3%). The effect magnitudes of the substantial differences observed ranged from small to large. Conclusions: The present results provide an overall picture of the force-velocity profile continuum in sprinting handball and basketball players and serve as useful background information for practitioners when diagnosing individual players and prescribing training programs.