The purpose of this study was 1) to verify the stability of the physical fitness profile of young handball athletes during adolescence, and 2) to compare these athletes to the São Paulo state handball adult team. The sample comprised five young female handball athletes who were followed-up for two years, with mean age and practice time before and after of 14.2 ± 1.3 years-old, 18.4 ± 10.7 months and 16.2 ± 1.3 years-old, 42.8 ± 10.7 months, respectively (12h/week training). Variables measured were: body weight (W); body height (H); vertical jump without (VJWo) and with help of arms (VJ); long jump (LJ); agility (SR); velocity (50m) and anaerobic power (40seg.), by CELAFISCS standardization. It was verified that with the exception of VJW and 50m, the young athletes showed upper values for all variables. The Pearson and Spearman coefficients were significantly higher and much higher (p < 0.05) for W (0.88), H (0.98 and 0.99), 50m (0.95 and 0.90) and 40 sec (0.87 and 0.90). Data permit to conclude that young athletes showed stability in anthropometric variables, velocity, and anaerobic power during the adolescence period, thus supporting the hypothesis that the expectation of success in sports can be predicted from early age.
Talent detection; Athletic talent; Z-CELAFISCS strategy; Sports; Stability; Adolescence; Handball
