Anthropometric profile of elite female handball players

Abstract

Objective

To analyze the anthropometric characteristics of 19 female elite handball players from a elite senior team.

Method

Nineteen (n=19) elite handball female players belonging to a senior team of Division of Honour participated in this study. Different body measurements were taken to study the anthropometric profile: body mass, skin folds, corporal perimeters and diameters, according to the International Society for the Advancements of Kinanthropometry protocol. Corporal composition and somatotype were obtained in every case.

Results

Female players presented a lower average weight (63.63 kg) than the ideal, and an average height of 168.2 cm, a predominantly endo-mesomorphic somatotype of 3.5; 4.6; 2.3, and a body mass index within the normal range (22.4 kg/m2).

Conclusions

These results provide normative anthropometric data for elite female handball players. The elite female handball players in our sample were predominantly endo-mesomorphic with mean values similar to those reported for female athletes participating in other sports. Data overall suggest that our sample have comparable anthropometric characteristics compared to other handball players, being slightly lower regarding weight, height and body mass index.