Abstract
<jats:p>This article presents the results of a pedagogical observation study of the competitive activity indicators of men's national teams in different age categories, based on the results of the 2025 World Championships. The study aimed to determine the indicators of competitive activity of national handball teams of different age categories. The research methods employed were theoretical analysis and generalisation of data from scientific and methodological literature, as well as pedagogical observation and methods of mathematical statistics. The analysis covered 116 games of the 2025 World Handball Championship among athletes under 19 years of age, 116 games among athletes under 21 years of age, and 108 games among adult athletes. The following components of competitive activity in handball were determined: the average number of attacks, shots and goals per game; shooting efficiency; and the average indicators of shooting from different playing positions in positional attacks and high-speed attacks, and their respective effectiveness and efficiency. Analysis of the general components of the competitive activity of national handball teams of different age categories showed a decrease in quantitative and qualitative indicators as the level of qualification increased. Pedagogical observation of shooting indicators from different playing positions by players in national handball teams of different age categories showed that the highest quantitative values were recorded in teams of under-19 players when shooting from extreme positions, while the highest efficiency values were recorded in adult teams. When throwing from close range, the number of throws decreases, as does their effectiveness and efficiency, with increasing age. Analysis of speed types in team attacks showed that teams of players under 21 years of age performed better than teams of players under 19 years of age and adult teams in terms of both quantitative and qualitative indicators.</jats:p>