BACKGROUND This study assesses whether high-volume continuous endurance training (HVT) still has a place in the preparatory period in handball training or whether this run could be replaced by small-sided games (SSGs). METHODS Twenty-four top elite female adolescent handball players voluntarily participated in this study. They were divided into an experimental group (ETG) and a control group (CTG). The ETG (16.8±1.4 years) did SSG training, and the CTG (16.8±1.7 years) did HVT. The ETG played SSGs, and the CTG ran HVT in 12 training sessions during the six weeks monitored. Fitness testing (consisting of running 20 m, running 30 m, and modified agility T-test; standing long jump test; ball-throwing velocity; and yo-yo intermittent test) was performed at the beginning of the six-week intervention and one week after the intervention. Mixed 2x2 ANOVA was performed. RESULTS When comparing (pretest vs. post-test) fitness test results for the CTG, there was a significant main effect of intervention type for the 30-m sprint test (4.87±0.24 and 4.82±0.22 s-1, respectively; P=0.046; F(2,22)=4.47, d=0.90), modified agility T-test (6.36±0.31 and 6.27±0.25 s-1, respectively; P=0.013; F(2,22)=7.27, d=1.14), standing long jump test (1.99±0.19 and 2.04±0.16 m, respectively; P=0.017; F(2,22)=6.63, d=1.09), and yo-yo test (693.33±190.18 and 986.67±357.49 m, respectively; P=0.012; F(2,22)=7.36, d=1.16). When comparing the results of fitness tests for the ETG, there was a significant main effect for pre-/post-intervention performance in the modified agility T-test (6.07±0.28 and 5.93±0.23 s-1, respectively; P=0.001; F(2,22)=12.66, d=1.52), 7-m throw test (68.6±8.51 and 74.58±9.08 km·h-1, respectively; P=0.001; F(2,22)=23.07, d=2.05), and yo-yo test (896.67±237.23 and 1343.33±319.75 m, respectively; P=0.001; F(2,22)=49.21, d=2.99). CONCLUSIONS SSGs have a greater positive effect on the development of aerobic performance and upper-limb strength in the pre-season of handball players compared to HVT.
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