The impact of coordination training on motor skills in adolescent handball players aged 14–15 years: A randomized controlled trial

Authors

Michał Spieszny, Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Physical Education, Krakow, PolandFollow
Wojciech Wąsacz, Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Physical Education, Krakow, PolandFollow
Zbigniew Kamys, Polish Handball Federation, Warsaw, PolandFollow
Tadeusz Ambroży, Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Physical Education, Krakow, PolandFollow
Krzysztof Kasicki, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Andrzej Frycz-Modrzejewski Krakow University, Krakow, PolandFollow
Paweł Kapuściński, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, PolandFollow
Łukasz Rydzik, Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Physical Education, Krakow, PolandFollow

Abstract

Introduction: Motor skills are fundamental to athletic performance, particularly in sports like handball, where coordination, speed, and power are critical. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an innovative coordination training program on the profile of motor skills of adolescent handball players compared to traditional training methods. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 27 young handball players. Participants were divided into an experimental group (n = 15) receiving additional co-ordination training and a control group (n = 12) following standard training. The participants’ motor fitness was assessed using selected population tests from the EUROFIT Physical Fitness Test Battery and the International Committee for the Standardization of Physical Fitness Tests (ICSPFT). Statistical analysis included the Mann–Whitney U test for between-group differences and the Wilcoxon test for within-group comparisons, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The experimental group demonstrated a significant improvement in the examined components of motor performance (p = 0.038 – 0.001), compared to the control group. This was particularly evident in terms of aerobic capacity, as diagnosed by the Beep Test, agility and running speed (shuttle run), anaerobic abilities (vertical jump, 10 m sprint, tapping, and medicine ball throw), and muscular endurance measured by sit-ups (p < 0.05). The participants in the experimental group were characterized by low within-group variability in the achieved results, which also showed increased homogeneity with each subsequent post-test measurement during the experimental intervention (mean test-index V%: pretest = 12.29; posttest 1 = 11.86; posttest 2 = 10.71). Conclusions: The 32-week experimental training program focused on coordination had a significant and comprehensive impact on the motor fitness profile of young handball players, suggesting that its inclusion in regular training sessions could optimize training and competition performance. Further research is needed to examine the long-term benefits and applicability of these methods in a broader population of athletes.

Recommended Citation

Spieszny M, Wasacz W, Kamys Z, Ambrozy T, Kasicki K, Kapuscinski P, Rydzik L. The impact of coordination training on motor skills in adolescent handball players aged 14–15 years: A randomized controlled trial. Balt J Health Phys Act. 2024;16(4):Article10. DOI: 10.29359/BJHPA.16.4.10

Author ORCID Identifier

Michał SPIESZNY, ORCID 0000-0002-9934-6911

Wojciech WĄSACZ, ORCID 0000-0002-7392-5229

Tadeusz AMBROŻY, ORCID 0000-0001-7361-9478

Krzysztof KASICKI, ORCID 0009-0008-9231-8353

Łukasz RYDZIK, ORCID 0000-0001-7956-7488

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.