RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To test 9 + screening batterie's intra-rater reliability, to provide indicative data of elite handball players, and to analyze difference between age, playing positions and level of play. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Icelandic elite male handball players. PARTICIPANTS: 182 elite male handball players. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nine + screening battery. RESULTS: Reliability test: Intra-class correlation for the total score was 0.95. The correlation of each of the test factors varied from 0.63 to 0.91. The mean total score was 22.3⯱â¯2.9 (95%CI 16.7-28.1), with no difference in total score comparing players age or level of play. Goalkeepers displayed a higher total score than other players (F3,151â¯=â¯5.75, pâ¯=â¯0.001). Junior players had a lower score than senior players in tests measuring abdominal strength and core stability; Test 5; â2(3, 182)â¯=â¯41.5, pâ¯<â¯0.0001, Test 6; â2(3, 182)â¯=â¯55.7, pâ¯<â¯0.0001, Test 7; â2(3, 182)â¯=â¯11.8, pâ¯<â¯0.005, but higher scores in tests measuring trunk and shoulder mobility Test 8; â2(3, 182)â¯=â¯18.2, pâ¯<â¯0.0001, Test 9; â2(3, 182)â¯=â¯22.2, pâ¯=â¯0.006. CONCLUSIONS: The 9+ intra-rater reliability was acceptable for the total score and individual tests. Age-related differences were provided in many individual tests.