Medicine ball training in the sequence of complex handball training versus only handball training: effects on physical fitness in pre-adolescence female handball players

Introduction: The inclusion of the training process of pre-adolescent female athletes with additional means helps to optimize exercise influences. The study aims to estimate the influence of a 16-week program of handball training with medicine balls in comparison with a program of handball training on the physical and special training of beginner handball players. Methods: Female athletes were randomly divided into an experimental (n = 30; 11.23 ±0.41 years) and a control (n = 32; 10.99 ± 0.4 years) group. Training sessions of both groups were conducted according to the existing curriculum, but the experimental group replaced part of the usual regimen by training with medicine balls once a week. Results: Both groups improved, but more markedly in the experimental group than in the control group in the increase of leg explosive power (Δ% = 7.73, p < 0.05, d = 0.67), trunk muscle strength (Δ% = 16.9, p < 0.05, d = 0.88) and ball handling level indicators: dribbling the ball (δ% = 13.41, p < 0.05, d = 1.07), throwing the handball ball with one hand (Δ% = 28.6, p < 0.05, d = 1.6). Conclusions: A program of workouts with medicine balls enables the improvement of important components of physical performance. Inclusion of the training process of preadolescent female athletes with additional means helps to optimize exercise influences.