Athlete monitoring in handball (ATHMON HB): a survey of current practice in professional women’s and men’s handball
Abstract Background Athlete monitoring is becoming increasingly important in elite team sports to optimize performance and prevent injuries and other athletic health problems. A variety of objective and subjective measures are available to monitor external and internal load, well-being, and readines...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01177-4 |
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| author | Alexander-Stephan Henze Jakob Burger Lynn Matits Hannes Degenhardt Kai Fehske Johannes Kirsten Sebastian Viktor Waldemar Schulz |
| author_facet | Alexander-Stephan Henze Jakob Burger Lynn Matits Hannes Degenhardt Kai Fehske Johannes Kirsten Sebastian Viktor Waldemar Schulz |
| author_sort | Alexander-Stephan Henze |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Athlete monitoring is becoming increasingly important in elite team sports to optimize performance and prevent injuries and other athletic health problems. A variety of objective and subjective measures are available to monitor external and internal load, well-being, and readiness to train or compete. A comprehensive Athlete Monitoring System (AMS) should include a meaningful combination of these methods and provide analysis and graphical presentation with decision support for coaches. The selection of monitoring methods to establish an AMS is influenced not only by sport-specific considerations, but also by the resources available. Our study aimed to describe the current practice of athlete monitoring in professional handball, and to examine potential gender differences. Methods A total of 104 women’s (n = 44) and men’s (n = 60) handball teams competing in the first two national leagues in Germany and Switzerland were invited to participate in an online survey (May-August 2024). The questionnaire used for this cross-sectional study was designed by an interdisciplinary team and consisted of a maximum of 28 questions. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to test for gender differences on the extent of athlete monitoring in the following sub-areas: Injuries and illness surveillance (IIS); external and internal load; well-being and readiness. Results The minimum response rate was 34.6% (19 men’s teams, 17 women’s teams). An IIS was performed in 75.0% of the responding teams. A total of 19 teams (52.8%) conducted further athlete monitoring, in 84.2% of cases with a comprehensive AMS, which most commonly included player tracking (13 out of 15 teams using external load measures) and the Session-Rating of Perceived Exertion-method (11 out of 19 teams using internal load measures), and customized well-being questionnaires (10 out of 18 teams using well-being measures). Men’s teams engage in significantly more IIS (94.7% men’s teams vs. 52.9% women’s teams, p =.019, δ = –0.356), player tracking (52.6% men’s teams vs. 11.8% women’s teams, p =.003, δ = –0.415) and internal load monitoring (63.2% men’s teams vs. 29.4% women’s teams, p =.015, δ = –0.387). Notably, 88.9% of teams are interested in implementing or developing an AMS. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the majority of handball teams already use some form of IIS, and more than half of these teams have implemented an AMS, with men’s teams using significantly more player tracking, internal load and well-being measures. The apparent high level of interest in athlete monitoring highlights the importance of data-driven approaches to managing player health and performance, although selection bias must be considered. This information is valuable for practitioners seeking to implement or expand AMS in handball. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2b382472fbed4717a996473dcaf3d658 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2052-1847 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj-art-2b382472fbed4717a996473dcaf3d6582025-08-20T03:48:18ZengBMCBMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation2052-18472025-05-0117111110.1186/s13102-025-01177-4Athlete monitoring in handball (ATHMON HB): a survey of current practice in professional women’s and men’s handballAlexander-Stephan Henze0Jakob Burger1Lynn Matits2Hannes Degenhardt3Kai Fehske4Johannes Kirsten5Sebastian Viktor Waldemar Schulz6Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital UlmDivision of Exercise Physiology and Metabolism, University of BayreuthSports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital UlmDepartment of Sports Orthopaedics, Technical University of MunichDepartment of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Johanniter WaldkrankenhausSports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital UlmSports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital UlmAbstract Background Athlete monitoring is becoming increasingly important in elite team sports to optimize performance and prevent injuries and other athletic health problems. A variety of objective and subjective measures are available to monitor external and internal load, well-being, and readiness to train or compete. A comprehensive Athlete Monitoring System (AMS) should include a meaningful combination of these methods and provide analysis and graphical presentation with decision support for coaches. The selection of monitoring methods to establish an AMS is influenced not only by sport-specific considerations, but also by the resources available. Our study aimed to describe the current practice of athlete monitoring in professional handball, and to examine potential gender differences. Methods A total of 104 women’s (n = 44) and men’s (n = 60) handball teams competing in the first two national leagues in Germany and Switzerland were invited to participate in an online survey (May-August 2024). The questionnaire used for this cross-sectional study was designed by an interdisciplinary team and consisted of a maximum of 28 questions. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to test for gender differences on the extent of athlete monitoring in the following sub-areas: Injuries and illness surveillance (IIS); external and internal load; well-being and readiness. Results The minimum response rate was 34.6% (19 men’s teams, 17 women’s teams). An IIS was performed in 75.0% of the responding teams. A total of 19 teams (52.8%) conducted further athlete monitoring, in 84.2% of cases with a comprehensive AMS, which most commonly included player tracking (13 out of 15 teams using external load measures) and the Session-Rating of Perceived Exertion-method (11 out of 19 teams using internal load measures), and customized well-being questionnaires (10 out of 18 teams using well-being measures). Men’s teams engage in significantly more IIS (94.7% men’s teams vs. 52.9% women’s teams, p =.019, δ = –0.356), player tracking (52.6% men’s teams vs. 11.8% women’s teams, p =.003, δ = –0.415) and internal load monitoring (63.2% men’s teams vs. 29.4% women’s teams, p =.015, δ = –0.387). Notably, 88.9% of teams are interested in implementing or developing an AMS. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the majority of handball teams already use some form of IIS, and more than half of these teams have implemented an AMS, with men’s teams using significantly more player tracking, internal load and well-being measures. The apparent high level of interest in athlete monitoring highlights the importance of data-driven approaches to managing player health and performance, although selection bias must be considered. This information is valuable for practitioners seeking to implement or expand AMS in handball.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01177-4Team sportsAthletic performanceAthletic injuriesPrimary preventionLoad managementSurveys and questionnaires |
| spellingShingle | Alexander-Stephan Henze Jakob Burger Lynn Matits Hannes Degenhardt Kai Fehske Johannes Kirsten Sebastian Viktor Waldemar Schulz Athlete monitoring in handball (ATHMON HB): a survey of current practice in professional women’s and men’s handball BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation Team sports Athletic performance Athletic injuries Primary prevention Load management Surveys and questionnaires |
| title | Athlete monitoring in handball (ATHMON HB): a survey of current practice in professional women’s and men’s handball |
| title_full | Athlete monitoring in handball (ATHMON HB): a survey of current practice in professional women’s and men’s handball |
| title_fullStr | Athlete monitoring in handball (ATHMON HB): a survey of current practice in professional women’s and men’s handball |
| title_full_unstemmed | Athlete monitoring in handball (ATHMON HB): a survey of current practice in professional women’s and men’s handball |
| title_short | Athlete monitoring in handball (ATHMON HB): a survey of current practice in professional women’s and men’s handball |
| title_sort | athlete monitoring in handball athmon hb a survey of current practice in professional women s and men s handball |
| topic | Team sports Athletic performance Athletic injuries Primary prevention Load management Surveys and questionnaires |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01177-4 |
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