This doctoral thesis had several purposes. We primarily aimed to experimentally investigate how the physiological indicators of effort at the same level of load intensity differ between the 30-15 intermittent field test (30-15IFT) and the multi-stage laboratory run test (TR) for the assessment of cardiorespiratory endurance. In addition, we aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between the values obtained on the two tests and to determine the correlation between the two tests. Secondly, we aimed to investigate whether the maximal achievable oxygen consumption (VO2peak) values obtained by these two tests differ. Finally, we aimed to investigate the difference in the morphological characteristics, physical performance measures and physiological parameters of elite handball players according to playing position and players' age. For our primary purpose (Study I), we sampled 24 elite handball players. By using randomized cross-sectional design, we investigated the differences between different physiological parameters achieved in two different endurance tests, ie., 30-15IFT and TR. The results showed that the values for maximum running speed (V) and VO2peak were significantly higher in the 30-15IFT than in the TR test. In addition, we found a moderate to high correlation between 30-15IFT and TR values and 30-15IFT and 30-15IFT4K VO2max values, while 30-15IFT4K and TR values had a weak, non-significant correlation. In another study (Study II), we found that between different groups of players (wings, backs, pivots), there are relatively few statistically significant differences in the various physiological parameters that we monitored during the 30-15IFT test. And finally, on a sample of 1066 elite handball players (Study III), we found that players differ between different age categories and playing positions in terms of body height, body weight, body mass index (BMI) and bone mass percentage (BM%), squat jump (SJ) , counter-movement jump (CMJ), end-running speed achieved on 30-15IFT (ERS) and VO2max. Lean muscle mass percentage (MM%), CMJ/SJ ratio and HRmax differed only between different age categories, while fat mass percentage (FM%) and 5m, 10m and 20m running speed differentiated the athletes only between playing positions. The results of the main research paper (Study I) provide scientifically relevant data on the validity of cardiorespiratory endurance measurements, specific for handball using the 30-15IFT. Thus, latter can be used as a valid and reliable test for assessment of HRmax, aerobic speed and VO2max of elite handball players. Moreover, the results of cross-sectional studies (Study II and III) are important to consider when it comes to talent identification programs. Both morphological and physical performance characteristics clearly differ between playing positions and age categories, which should be a valuable reference for coaches to develop training regimens specific to playing positions and make their training concepts more effective.
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