The objectives of
this study were: (i) to analyse anthropometric parameters, physical fitness,
and throwing velocity of handball male elite youth players of different ages;
and (ii) to develop a multivariate model that explains throwing velocity.
Fifty-three handball men players (17.99±1.68 years old), members of the
Icelandic National Teams, participated in the study. The participants were
classified into the U21 National Team (n=12), U19 National Team (n=17), and U17
National Team (n=24). All were evaluated by basic anthropometry (body height,
body mass, body mass index), physical fitness tests (counter movement jump,
medicine ball throw, hand dynamometry, 10 m and 30 m sprint, yo-yo IR2 test)
and ball speed after various handball throws at goal (a 7-m throw, a 9-m
ground shot after a three-step run-up, and a 9-m jump shot after a three-step
approach). A one-way analysis of variance with a Bonferroni