A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON SKILL TEST PERFORMANCE AND ACTUAL MATCH PERFORMANCE OF HANDBALL PLAYERS OF SOLAPUR DISTRICT OF MAHARASHTRA

Abstract

Abstract: Handball performance assessment traditionally relies on standardized skill tests measuring strength, agility, speed, and throwing velocity. However, the relationship between controlled testing environments and actual match performance remains inadequately understood, particularly among regional-level players in developing handball contexts. This study compared skill test performance with actual match performance indicators among handball players from Solapur District, Maharashtra, to determine the predictive validity of standardized tests for game-specific performance. Forty-eight handball players (24 male, 24 female; age range 16-24 years) from Solapur District were assessed using a comprehensive skill test battery including 15m sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ), handgrip strength, modified agility T-test, and throwing velocity. Match performance was analyzed across 12 competitive matches using 18 offensive, defensive, and transition variables. Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis examined relationships between test and match variables. Moderate-to-strong correlations emerged between selected skill tests and match performance indicators. Throwing velocity in testing correlated significantly with shooting efficiency in matches (r=0.71, p<0.001), while agility performance correlated with successful defensive stops (r=0.65, p<0.001). However, maximal throwing speed during testing (28.4±3.2 km/h) was significantly higher than effective match throwing speed (22.7±2.8 km/h, p<0.001), revealing a 20.1% decrement. Regression analysis indicated that 62% of match shooting efficiency variance was explained by combined skill test variables (R²=0.62, p<0.001). Standardized skill tests provide meaningful but incomplete predictions of match performance. The significant gap between testing and match throwing speeds suggests psychological and tactical factors moderate test-performance transfer. Coaches should supplement skill testing with match-specific pressure training. Keywords: Handball, skill assessment, match performance, throwing velocity, agility, predictive validity