Handball Coach Uses Insights from Data to Decrease Injury Rate Nearly 20%
If you’re a handball coach who’s looking for a better way to manage the workload of your players, the head of strength and conditioning for the German Handball Federation has a data-driven strategy that is not only keeping his players better rested, but it’s cutting the injury rate at the same time.
Dr. Simon Overkamp oversees strength and conditioning for all the German Handball Federation men’s and women’s teams. One thing he noticed is the struggle coaches can have when it comes to resting players. It’s a catch-22.
The handball season is a grind, and players are often playing for multiple teams at the same time. During a game, especially a close one, coaches want to use their best players as much as possible.
But Dr. Overkamp says statistics show a spike in joint-related injuries during February, after the International Tournament, which coincides with either the European Championship or World Championship in January, ends. And if it’s an Olympic year, he sees a similar spike in September.
So, he came up with a load management plan based on the data he was collecting with an IMU player tracking system and he is already seeing positive results. Knee injuries are already down nearly 20%.
If you’d like to find out his secret and get the details on the plan he put together and how he executes it, download the case study by clicking the link below.
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