The relationship between shots and rebounded areas in handball games

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was twofold: (i) to identify the relationship between shots and rebounded areas in the men and women’s elite handball games; and (ii) to compare the differences by gender. The samples were composed through 48 matches (24 matches, respectively) and 699 shooting sequences (n = 372 for men, and n = 327 for women) from the men’s and women’s 2019 World Championship. The results were recorded using an original recording made while observing all match videos. A database was then created using the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software. Performance analysis applied running a binominal logistic regression identified: (i) close shots returned to the area where shots were performed; (ii) distance shots which were difficult to be predicted by goalkeepers due to shooting course and shooting timing returned to the field area; and (iii) when rebounded balls returned to the side area, they were got by the attacking team. Current findings allow to suggest some practical applications to get rebounded balls securing and protecting the field area for distance shots, the same area where the shot was made in close shots and half-defenders need to be ready for shots rebounding to side area.