Introduction: Good static and dynamic balance in athletes has many positive effects, including improved performance, reduced risk of injury and faster rehabilitation after injury. These benefits make balance training essential for any sporting regime. Purpose: The aim of this thesis was to determine the effect of a targeted training programme on static and dynamic balance in young female handball players. Methods: 10 female handball players were tested three times, before training, after training and four months after completion of the training programme. Testing was performed using three tests: the Y-test of balance, the functional range test and the one-leg stand test. All tests measured reach in centimetres, except for the one-leg stand test, which measured the time taken for the body to stay in a given position. Between the first and second tests, the subjects followed a five-week exercise programme to improve their balance. The training was carried out three times a week for approximately 15 minutes. Results: In the Y-test, scores in all achievement measures for PO 1 worsened compared to PRE, while PO 2 improved compared to PO 1. In the one-leg stand test with eyes closed, the results of the PO 1 test (45.00 cm ± 0.00 cm; p=0.007) were better than the PRE test (30.50 cm ± 13.20 cm), while the results of the PO 2 test (38.10 cm ± 10.81 cm; p=0.158) remained improved compared to the PRE test. In the functional reach test, the results of PO 1 (34.10 cm ± 5.43 cm; p=0.254) and PO 2 (37.20 cm ± 7.54 cm; p=0.095) testing were improved relative to PRE (31.80 cm ± 8.26 cm) testing. Discussion and Conclusion: We were not able to fully confirm the hypotheses and sub-hypotheses as the results were mixed. The 5-week exercise programme improved static balance due to improved body stability, while no improvement was observed for dynamic balance. After the exercise session, static balance was mostly maintained, albeit with a slight decline, highlighting the need for continuous exercise for long-term effects. The results suggest the need to integrate exercise into the training process.
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