Performance differences and determinants of success in world men's handball championships

Abstract - Aim It is to compare performance indicators among World Men's Handball Championships, 2017, 2019 and 2021. Taking into consideration that the last one took place under pandemic restrictions, and thus affecting all stages of preparation and competition, we also investigated indicators that mostly affected the teams’ ranking. Methods: The sample consisted of sets of performance indicator variables specifically related to court player and goalkeeper efficacy, offense, defense, and punishment of all participant teams. We used the analysis of variance and the ordinary least square regression. Results: No significant differences in shots (p = 0.165, η2 = 0.046) and goals per game (p = 0.211, η2 = 0.040) were found in the last three successive world championships examined in our study. However, significant differences were found in court player efficacy at 6 m (p = 0.000, η2 = 0.226) and breakthrough (p = 0.047, η2 = 0.077) while for goalkeeper efficacy, differences were observed at 6 m (p = 0.000, η2 = 0.199), penalty (p = 0.049, η2 = 0.099) and fast break (p = 0.005, η2 = 0.132). From the set of variables related to offense, defense and punishment, significant differences were observed only for assists per game (p = 0.004, η2 = 0.134). Conclusion: The determinants of success of the top teams were the variables of court player efficacy and goalkeeper efficacy at 9 m followed by goalkeeper breakthrough efficacy, technical faults and 2-min suspensions per game.