VALIDITY OF NEW HANDBALL AGILITY TEST: ASSOCIATION WITH SPECIFIC SKILLS AND MUSCULAR EXPLOSIVE DETERMINANTS OF LOWER LIMBS IN YOUNG HANDBALL PLAYERS

The aims of the study were to assess the reliability and validity of a new handball agility test (HAT), and to evaluate the association between the test and the explosive performance measurements of lower limbs in young handball players. 72 young handball players (15.6 ± 0.4 years) participated in this study. All players conducted the HAT using a modified ZIG ZAG course consisting of three 5-m sections set out at 100° angles. Electronic timing gates were used to record completion times. To assess the reliability of the HAT, each player performed the tests twice, on separate days. The criterion validity of the HAT was determined by examining the relationship between the HAT performances and two popular agility tests performances (T-half test and the Illinois test). Participants also underwent measurements squat and counter-movement jumps, sprinting velocities on 5-m (V5) and 10-m (V10), and handball specific skill test (HST). The results showed no difference between test–retest HAT scores. Intra class reliability of the HAT was greater than 0.91 across the trials (0.92 and 0.97, respectively). The HAT was closely related to both the T-half test and Illinois agility tests (r= 0.52 and r = 0.68, p< 0.05). Relevant correlations were found between HAT, CMJ and SJ (r = 0.58 and r = 0.38 respectively; p<0.01). A very large association were also found between HAT and V5-m and V10-m (r = 0.60 and r = 0.55 respectively; p<0.01). The HAT constitutes a reliable and valid field tool for assessing short term running agility in young team handball players. Therefore, is very suitable for monitoring athletic performance of the lower-limbs in young handball players.