Spatial offensive performance of the 2017 and 2019 World Handball Championships. Differences according to classification

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the spatial performance indexes of laterality and depth as a function of the final classification of the teams that competed in the men's (Germany-Denmark 2019) and women's (Germany 2017) senior handball world championships, considering for this aim the total number of throws made as a function of the finishing zones. A documentary study was carried out based on the total number of throws made in 192 men's and 154 women's participations of 48 national teams belonging to 33 countries, which participated in the previous World Cups. The data were collected by the IHF. The results showed that the lower ranked teams in both World Cups compared to the champions finished a greater number of times both from the side lanes of the field and from shallow offensive areas. This information will be useful for coaches in improving their training design and for players in their decision making.