Defense Analysis of Greek Elite Handball Teams

Athanasios Yiannakos, Aikaterini Kougioumtzoglou, Vasilis Armatas, Christos Galazoulas, & Panagiota Triantafillou

Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hellas

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the element of systematic defence in handball game of Greek championship. Were analyzed fifteen games of handball at the period of 2002-2003. Were recorded the frequency of defensive systems, the spaces by which were realized the throws, their result and the point of the goalpost to which the ball ended per defensive system. The analysis of games presented similar fre- quency of defensive situations with international data of past years, as well as work that is reported in European athletes of handball of younger ages. The defensive effectiveness presented high percentages comparing with corresponding tendencies of international organizations, where it is observed gradual reduction of defensive effectiveness. The application of different systems did not influence the realization of final throws regarding to the field space. The throws that ended to the low area of goalpost presented important differences concerning the intermediate and high area. In conclusion, according to the results of the present study the high effectiveness of defensive behaviour is influenced likely by the low one of the attack and on the other hand by the low theoretical training level, as well as the playing maturity of the Greek players in defence.

Keywords: handball, defense, effectiveness, video – analysis.