Analysis of the Influence of the Numerical Relation in Handball During an Organized Attack, Specifically the Tactical Behavior of the Center Back

In the last decades due to its characteristics observational methodology has been widely used in scientific research in sport, namely in the study of team games like handball. Handball, in addition to be a collective, complex, dynamic and interactive sport, has its own characteristics and demands a performance analysis that takes into account the context and interaction between the different factors and variables. The present study analyses how the different numerical relations in an attack can change the centre back patterns of tactical behaviour. Observational methodology and a mixed ad hoc instrument combining field format and category systems appropriately validated by experts were used. Data was taken from 20 matches involving teams classified in the first 4 places in the 2017 Men’s World Championship. These were recorded from TV broadcasts and the total number of offensive sequences carried out in an organized attack game method (n=990) were analysed. In each of the sequences carried out in an organized attack, the numerical relation in attack or defence was observed and recorded. In addition to this, it was verified whether the attacking team maintained or replaced the goalkeeper by a field player in the attack. Both sequential analysis techniques with lags, prospective and retrospective, as well as, polar coordinate analysis were used. Results have shown there are different behavioural patterns of the centre back in the three different situations of numerical relation. Another element that stood out was that in numerical equality with the defence and no goalkeeper at the goal, the centre back opted for greater security and less risk of loss of the ball.