IOSR Journal of Sports and Physical Education (IOSR-JSPE) e-ISSN: 2347-6737, p-ISSN: 2347-6745, Volume 2, Issue 2 (Mar - Apr. 2015), PP 05-11 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/6737-0220511 www.iosrjournals.org 5 | Page Longitudinal Skeleton Dimensionality Characteristics of Nigerian Junior Male Handball Players Dr. S.M. Adodo 1 Professor E.O. Agwubike 2 Senior Lecturer Institute of Education University of Benin Benin City, Nigeria Department of Health Environmental Education and Human Kinetics, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria Abstract: The aims of this study were to determine the longitudinal skeleton dimensionality (LSD) component of anthropometric features common to junior male handball players; and to analyse the probable variations in LSD features among players in the five positional playing groups of Goalkeeper (GK), Inside back position (IBP), Centre back position (CBP), Pivot position (PV) and Wing position (WP). Standard LSD measurements for body height (cm), arm span (cm), arm, hand and leg lengths (cm) were recorded for a sample of 106 junior (under 18) male handball players that participated in the study mean values in most of the LSD measures for body height (176.16±7.93cm), hand length (21.12±2.85cm), leg length (40.32±2.96cm) and arm span (187.57±10.05cm). The GKs, however, recorded the highest mean values in arm length (32.41±2.46cm), while the CBPs had the lowest recorded mean values in all the LSD measures. When data were analysed for positional differences, the IBP were significantly taller (F=3.02; p<0.02) with longer arm span (F=2.98, p<0.02) than players in all other positional groups. There were no significant differences in arm, hand and leg lengths of the players. The obtained position related difference suggest that the possession of superior body height and arm span are prerequisites for players playing and desirous to play in the inside back position. These findings could provide realistic morphological benchmarks for the selection of potential junior male handball players competing in specific individual positions and positional playing groups. I. Introduction Team handball, a complex and intermittent body contact sport, was introduced into Nigeria in 1972 in preparation to host the 1973 2 nd All African Games in Lagos, Nigeria (Handball Federation of Nigeria – HFN, 2000). From that point, the game developed very fast and enjoyed nationwide popularity, perhaps next to soccer. This culminated in several successful high points in Nigeria’s handball history. According to the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN, 2000), Nigeria won the African junior women handball championships in 1986, 1988 and 1990. She also hosted the 7 th World junior ladies handball championship in 1989; became the first team sport in Nigeria, apart from soccer, to participate at the Olympic Games in 1992; and in the 1999 world male handball championships in Egypt. Overtime, the fortune of the game of handball in Nigeria began to record a consistent decline inspite of these initial successes and recognition in the eighties (Dauda, 2010). In the last two decades, trends in the game of handball show some changes in techniques, tactics and even more so in the physical demands of the game and other parameters of performance success. Research interests and activities directed at detecting and improving several aspects of the game at the global level (Bayios, Bergelis, Apostolidis, Noutsos & Koskolov, 2006; Taborsky, 2007; Hassan, Rahaman, Cable & Reilly, 2007) have, however focussed more on the physiological and biochemical parameters of performance success among senior elite and sub – elite male and female handball players. Similarly, research studies relating anthropometric characteristics of senior male and female players to performance success in handball and other team sports are fairly well documented (Zapartidis, Tonganidis, Vareltis, Christedoulidis, Kororos & Skoufas, 2009; Hassan et al, 2007; Gabbett & Georgieff, 2007; Duncan, Woodfield & Ai – Naskeeb, 2006). A consistent conclusion that runs through most of these studies seems to suggest that anthropometric characteristics of players have contributed to the athletes level of performance (Oxyzoglou, Ore & Rizos, 2004); and thus, constitute a predisposing factor for success in elite sports (Rakovac, Smoljanovic, Bojanic, Hannafin, Hren & Thomas, 2011). The longitudinal skeleton dimensionality (LSD) component of anthropometric characteristics of players are presumed to have a fairly important role in determining player’s level of performance (Katic, Cavala & Srhoj, 2007). Srhoj, Marinovic & Rogulj (2002) have confirmed that top level handball players are characterised by athletic body build with a pronounced longitudinal dimensionality of skeleton. In junior handball players, research findings (Mohammed, Vaeyens, Mattys, Multael, Lefevre, Lenoir & Philippaerts, 2009) have specifically identified the arm length as a factor, among other physiological and skill characteristics, that can distinguish performance of players within similar age and stage of development. Players especially those in team sports, have been shown to perform different match play tasks during a game or competition depending on playing positions (Gabbett, 2005; Meir, Newton & Curtis, 2001). Team