Resumen
Although the present study suggests that the effects of age on performance and recovery in team sports are smaller than initially assumed, the few existing age-related differences in recovery should, nevertheless, be taken seriously in order to optimally monitor the team players? training stress, to prevent any injuries, and to improve individual and team performances. Finally, the differences in the sprint times measured in the current study indicate that the older players either put less effort into the sprints and did not exert themselves as much as the young players did or that they became fatigued more quickly than the U20 players. For coaches, this would mean that the extent of highly intensive exercise should be reduced for older players in order to prevent any consequent negative outcome and to support the older players to achieve maximum output. Alternatively, older players may be allowed prolonged recovery time after high-intensity exercises. To conclude, research related to stress capacity and recovery processes, including age groups consistent with those typically encountered in different team sports, such as handball, basketball, football, or volleyball, are of major importance to athletes and their coaches and should be continued in the future.