Sladjana Martinovic; Boris Banjevic; Jovica Petkovic & Aldijana Nokic

A substantial body of kinesiology research highlights the importance of morphological characteristics in female handball players as a determinant of elite athletic performance. The primary objective of this study was to identify positional differences in morphological attributes among female handball players and to examine the predictive influence of these variables on ball-release velocity. The sample consisted of 45 professional female handball players (mean age 18.0 ± 2.7 years), stratified into three positional groups: backcourt players, wings, and pivots. The measurement protocol included four anthropometric indicators and four tests assessing ball-release velocity. Descriptive statistics were computed for all variables. To determine potential differences in morphological characteristics between subgroups, a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted, followed by univariate ANOVA models to examine individual effects. A regression analysis was subsequently performed to evaluate the predictive capacity of morphological variables for ball-release velocity. Significant differences were observed in morphological profiles across positions, with body height, body mass, arm length, and arm span contributing most notably to the variance. Wings were found to be shorter and lighter compared to backs and pivots, whereas backcourt players exhibited superior values for arm span and hand length. Regression results revealed that hand length, wrist diameter, and forearm length significantly predicted ball-release velocity among pivots. The findings suggest that positional demands shape optimal morphological attributes in female handball players, and that select anthropometric parameters may exert an indirect influence on throwing performance through anatomical and biomechanical mechanisms. Future investigations should incorporate a broader set of predictors, including biomotor capacities and technical execution parameters, to enable a more comprehensive understanding of the determinants of ball-release velocity in elite female handball.

KEY WORDS: Morphological characteristics; Ball-release velocity; Handball; Female athletes.

MARTINOVIC, S.; BANJEVIC, B.; PETKOVIC, J. & NOKIC, A. Morphological characteristics of female handball players and their influence on ball release velocity in relation to playing position. Int. J. Morphol., 44(2):431-436, 2026.