Influence of Isolated and Combined Strength Training on Selected Motor Fitness Variables among Inter Collegiate Handball Players
Author : M Kalidoss, Dr. S Rameshkumar, Dr. G Balasundar and Dr. P Natarajan
Abstract :
Strength training plays a crucial role in enhancing motor fitness and sport-specific performance in handball, a game that demands speed, agility, explosive power, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility. Although various strength training methods are widely practiced, limited research has compared the effectiveness of isolated strength training and combined strength training among intercollegiate handball players. Therefore, the present study aims to examine the comparative influence of these two training approaches on selected motor fitness variables. The purpose of the study is to investigate the influence of isolated and combined strength training on selected motor fitness variables among intercollegiate handball players. Sixty (60) male intercollegiate handball players, aged 18–25 years, from the Nehru Group of Institutions, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, will be selected as subjects. The participants will be randomly assigned into three groups of twenty (20) players each: Experimental Group I (Isolated Strength Training), Experimental Group II (Combined Strength Training), and a Control Group. The experimental groups will participate in their respective training programmes for a period of twelve (12) weeks, with three training sessions per week, while the control group will continue its regular handball practice without any additional training intervention. The selected motor fitness variables include speed, agility, explosive power, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility. These variables will be assessed using standardized field tests before and after the training programme. The collected data will be analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) to determine the significance of differences among the groups, with the level of significance set at 0.05. It is hypothesized that both isolated and combined strength training programmes will significantly improve the selected motor fitness variables compared with the control group. Furthermore, the combined strength training programme is expected to produce greater improvements than isolated strength training because of its integrated approach to developing multiple components of physical fitness simultaneously. The findings of this study are expected to provide valuable evidence for coaches, physical education professionals, and handball trainers in designing scientifically structured strength training programmes to enhance motor fitness and competitive performance among intercollegiate handball players.
Keywords :
Isolated and combined strength training, speed and explosive power.
