Physical Demands in Female International Beach Handball Competition Depending on Player’s Position Differentiating Game Quarters

Beach handball is a young team sport that is developing and spreading very rapidly in all continents. The aim of this study was to describe the physical demands during competition. The playing time was divided into five-minute periods in order to make comparisons between the variables under study; furthermore, these demands were analyzed in each playing position.Fifteen players of the Spanish women’s national team were equipped with a global positioning system (GPSport) during five official and three unofficial matches. The international beach handball players covered 280.60 ± 139.25 meters in the first set and 351.64 ± 129.57 meters in the second set, reporting significant differences between both sets (F = 6.14; p = .01). The greatest distance covered was in zone 2 (from 6 to 9 km-h-1) and zone 4 (from 9 to 12 km-h-1). According to the playing position, it is reported that the defense position is the one that travels the greatest distances per set 346.78 ± 133.00 meters and there are significant differences in the distance traveled, accelerations, decelerations and sprints between the wing, defense and fixed wing positions.This study provides information to coaches and their technical staff to optimize the training load and individualize the physical demands of their handball players according to each playing position.