Effects of Dribbling Constraints on Sprint Acceleration Performance According to Maturity Status in Handball Players

Sudlow, A, Pommerell, F, Galantine, P, Del Sordo, G, Boyas, S, Rahmani, A, Robichon, J, Samozino, P, Duché, P, and Peyrot, N. Effects of dribbling constraints on sprint acceleration performance according to maturity status in handball players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2025—The aim was to determine the effects of dribbling and maturation in handball players on sprinting horizontal force production capacities. One hundred sixteen male handball players participated (10–39 years). Split times and continuous velocity-time data were collected using a radar in sprinting and dribbling conditions. Samozino's method was applied to obtain horizontal force-velocity relationship parameters (Pmax, F 0 , v 0 , S FV ) and technical variables (RFmax, D RF ). Somatic maturity was determined from peak height velocity (PHV). Statistical significance for all tests was set at an alpha level p < 0.05. Interaction effects were observed for split times revealing that, at all distances, each maturity group decreased in performance when dribbling and that maturation effects persisted in both conditions ( p < 0.05, d = 0.33–3.83). No interaction effects were observed for any of the mechanical outputs but decreases in all outputs were observed in the dribbling condition, all maturity groups combined ( p < 0.002, d = 0.36–0.90). Greater relative change in performance was observed for Pre-PHV vs. Post-PHV and Adults at almost all distances ( p < 0.05, d = 0.59–0.93). No effects of maturation were observed for any of the mechanical outputs. Dribbling in handball has effects on horizontal force capacities with reductions in Pmax primarily due to greater losses in v 0 than F 0 , suggesting that improvement in dribbling proficiency leads to smaller decreases in propulsive force production capacities.