IMPORTANCE OF CARDIORESPIRATORY ENDURANCE IN MALE HANDBALL PLAYERS

Abstract Team handball is a complex game which requires a series of different abilities while the fact that different players’ positions in the field require different characteristics and abilities hinders the defining of the morphofunctional model of ideal handball player. Unlike the anthropomorphological profile, the functional model of handball player is not even close to be clearly defined. The basis for assessing the optimal level of cardiorespiratory endurance in handball players is to define the duration of certain levels of load during a handball match and also a physiological requirements that the player needs to fulfill. The level of cardiorespiratory (aerobic) endurance plays an important role in inducing and controlling the desirable physiological adaptations during a training process. Previous scientific results indicate that the cardiorespiratory endurance does not represent a limiting factor for high performance of handball players during the competition. However, a good aerobic preparation allows efficient process of recovery during the period between high intensity activities. Knowing the individual cardiorespiratory endurance of handball players is the foundation for enhancing their abilities and competition results by means of sports training. Keywords: team handball, cardiorespiratory endurance, adaptation, training