Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between vertical and horizontal jumping ability and change of direction (COD) to measure athletic performance in 51 elite male handball players. Scope: Countermovement jump (CMJ), peak power, and standing long jump (SLJ) were measured. Participants performed a 20-m sprint test (time measured at 5, 10, and 20 m) and a zigzag test (COD: 135°, 90°, and 45°). The COD deficit, an index of the time required for COD, was calculated. The correlations between CMJ height and zigzag test times were relatively large (at 135°, r = - 0.607; at 90°, r = - 0.594; at 45°, r = - 0.613; p < 0.01), whereas those between CMJ height and COD deficit were moderate (at 135°, r = - 0.399, p < 0.01; at 90°, r = - 0.350, p < 0.05; at 45°, r = - 0.323, p < 0.05). SLJ showed a negative moderate correlation with COD deficit (at 135°, r = - 0.439, p < 0.01; at 90°, r = - 0.469, p < 0.01; at 45°, r = - 0.380, p < 0.01). Conclusions: This study is the first to analyse SLJ ability and COD deficit parameters of handball players. We found that SLJ ability is moderately related to COD time and deficit; therefore, SLJ measurement may be a useful predictor of athletic performance.
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