Model height-weight index, age and role of highly qualified handball players and tendencies of the game development in 2008-2018 years

The article represents the results of the analysis of tendencies of men’s handball development of high achievements on the international arena in 2008-2018 years. The changes of height-weight index, age and role of highly qualified handball players, participants of the Olympic Games of 2008 in Beijing (China) and European Championship 2018 in Zagreb (Croatia) have been given. These indicators, taken as models, are compared to the similar indicators fixed among the participants of the championships in Russia in 2008-2009 and 2017-2018. There is an increasing gap in the height-weight index of the Russian handball players in comparison with foreign athletes. The average age of the domestic and foreign players, participants of the largest tournaments, hasn’t changed for the last 10 years. The index of the heightweight criteria of the participants has increased in every role, especially among linear players and back line players. One can see the rejuvenating of the players in the teams of the internal championship, which is partially explained by the change of generations as well as the preparation of the young prospective athletes for the Olympic Games of 2020 in Tokyo (Japan)...