Features of jump activity of higher qualification female handball players
The aim of this study was evaluation of volumes of jump activity and definition of types of jumps, used by the modern female handball players of elite level, and assessment of the frequency of their application in the game. The analysis and shorthand video taping of games World Championship 2009, Champions League 2009 and the World Cup in 2009 (20 games involving teams of Russia, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Spain) have been undertaken. It has been established that the French and the Russian teams had approximately equal amounts of jumping activity at the World Championship (average 91 and 89 jumps per game, respectively). Other teams had average 77 jumps per game that is not significantly different from this value of Russian national team. Russian club-teams performed near 72 jumps per game in the Champions League. This value is not significantly different from mean of number of jumps of other teams in this competitions. Sweden national team in the World Cup and national teams of Hungary and Montenegro in the Champions League have also performed an average 72 jumps. The most frequently the Russian national team used the following types of jumps: 1) stand jump up by take-off of two legs; 2) up-long jump by one leg take-off after run-up; 3) jump up by one leg take-off after one step run-up; 4) running jump with rival's resisting; 5) jump up by tow legs take-off after one step run-up and one leg jump up after run-up. The least used jumps with opponent's resistance stand or after single step run-up, and jump with one leg take-off after run-up aside. This frequency of jumps using remains in other participating teams of World Championship except stand jump up by take-off of two leg, which is applied by the Russian national team significantly more often than other teams.