Relationship between resistance training-induced changes in Power, Change of Direction, Sprint, Jumping abilities and match-related handball performance in female players during season

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between resistance training-induced changes in lower-body Power, sprint, change of direction, jumping abilities and changes in match-related handball performance during season in female handball players. Methods: Twenty-five female handball players from the third highest level in Norway completed a 12-week strength- and power training intervention. Players were subsequently pooled into high-responders (n=7) and low-responders (n=18) based on pre-post changes in four tests; leg press power (pneumatic device), countermovement jump height (CMJ), sprint (30m) and change of direction (CoD) times (4x180° turns). High-responders were defined as players who improved in 3 of the 4 tests, surpassing both each test´s smallest worthwhile change and coefficient of variation. Match-related handball performance were measured as High-Intensity Events (HIE) proximally once a week during 6vs6 match-related sessions for 10min (5minx2). Results: There were revealed no significant difference between groups in HIE-changes from pre-to post (high-responders: -3.44 ± 8.88 vs low-responders: -0.211 ± 9.22, p= 0.435). Furthermore, a correlation analysis on changes in performance measures (Power, CMJ, 30m sprint, CoD) and changes in HIE revealed no significant correlation between the variables (r=-0.127, p= 0.553). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that resistance training-induced changes in performance measures does not correlate with changes in HIE among female handball players in-season