Abstract

It is trivial to say that the team wins a game that scores most. But which aspects do really make the difference? One way to approach this question is to analyze the components of team performance. Based on a similar approach in basketball, the authors analyzed the structure of the handball matches recorded at the European Championships from 2000 to 2006. From the fact that in order to win a team has to score at least one more goal than the opponent team, one can derive that on the one hand goals of the own team have to be established and on the other hand goals of the opponent team have to be avoided. Therefore, the success rates of match behaviour leading to goals and saves have to be analyzed. As a consequence, the team will win, which – in sum – shows more successful actions that lead to own goals and avoid goals of the opponent. Finally, the respective actions of the game need to be categorized. There are several options to take, e.g., arranging the categories by time, space (e.g., horizontal distance from goal or lateral position), tactical situation (e.g., position attack or penalty) and relation to the purpose of the game (i.e., goal or save). Einleitung (geändert und erweitert)