Impact of Sand-Based Handball Training on Acceleration and Vertical Jumping Ability during the Off-Season

Background: Explosive power and sprinting speed are crucial in handball for rapid movements and powerful jumps.
Aim: This study aimed to examine the effects of a six-week beach handball training program conducted during the off-season period on sprint performance (5 m, 10 m, and 20 m) and vertical jump abilities Countermovement Jump with Free Arms (CMJfa), Countermovement Jump (CMJ) and Squat Jump (SJ) in young male handball players.
Methods: Thirty-four junior handball players (aged 15–17) were divided into experimental (E) and control (C) groups. The experimental group followed a structured beach handball training regimen three times per week, including game-specific drills and match play, while the control group engaged in unstructured recreational activity.
Results: Results showed significant improvement in 5-meter sprint performance in the experimental group (p = 0.022; Cohen’s d = 0.828), indicating enhanced acceleration capacity. The study results showed that no statistically significant changes were found in vertical jump performance in either group.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that beach handball training during the off-season can be an effective strategy for improving short-distance sprinting ability, and its impact on vertical explosive power appears limited, likely due to the biomechanical properties of sand.