Abstract：The aim of this study was to investigate the skill-specific fitness and physiology profile in elite young male handball players during a competition season. Subjects were recruited from four high school handball teams which were finished on top 6 in 2006 National Teacher-Student Championship Cup. Seventy-six male subjects were completed the tests in three stages: transition stage, preparatory stage and competition stage during the season and their body mass index and body fat were recorded. All the subject were asked to perform specific fitness tests (15m sprint, vertical jump, grasp strength, back strength, ten-step jump, handball throw and maximal oxygen uptake) and to give their saliva samples for hormones like testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) analysis. The results showed that the habitual hand grasp strength, back strength, handball throw distance, and maximal oxygen uptake were significantly improved during the season (p＜.05). Ten-step jump and 15m sprint were gradually degeneracy during the season (p＜.05). However, no differences were found in non-habitual hand grasp strength, handball throw velocity and vertical jump during the season. Saliva T concentrations at transition stage was lower than at preparatory stage. Saliva C concentrations were significantly higher in competition stage than that of transition stage. The testosterone-to-cortisol (T/C) ratios were gradually decreased from transition stage through preparatory stage to competition stage. Our data suggested that specific fitness was gradually improved during the season in habitual hand grasp strength, back strength, handball throw distance, and maximal oxygen uptake but not in ten-step jump and 15 m sprint in elite young handball players. The T/C ratios were decreased over 30% from transition stage to competition stage which might indicate insufficient recovery time during the seasonal training. (Full text)