Abstract

This article analyses the speed and precision of the ball when it leaves the hand, in order to be located in the goal, as the main parameters of the effectiveness of a long-distance throw in handball.
A photogrametric, bidimensional (2D) study is carried out in orde to calculate the speed of the ball, just it leaves the thrower´s hand; then the results are contrasted with the ones obtained in other similar studies. Equally, the ball precision is investigated bearing in mind that the target we find is variable (size, shape, location, etc.). effective areas from which to score a goal will differ every time due to: a) the position of the goalkeeper and the chance he will move around until the ball is out of his reach and  b) the position of the ball at the moment when it leaves the thrower´s hand.
After carrying out a previous study, in which the antecedents related to the highest difficulty zones for the goalkeerer to cover are analysed, we proceed to define areas with greater or lesser effectiveness, signing points between 0 to the 10 to the different zones of the goal, according to the difficulty the goalkeeper has in accesing them in order to intervine with the ball.
The analysis of the result shows that the speed rates which have been obtained are similar to those obtained in studies carried out using the same methodological characteristics. Furthermore, the precision does not appear to be affected by the speed with the ball leaves the hand, the moment of throwing the ball nor by the position of the goalkeeper.