The purpose of this study was to assess the diurnal variations on motor fitness and core temperature of male handball players. Ten male handball players were selected from Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Annamalai University. The motor fitness variables and core temperature were selected as criterion variables. They were tested by 30 meter run, T-test, vertical jump test and tympanic temperature. One-way repeated measures ANOVA was carried out between three different times of day (07:00, 12:00 and 17:00 hours). Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to identify differences between three different times of day (07:00, 12:00 and 17:00 hours). The result of the study displayed no diurnal effect on speed (F = 0.542, p > 0.05), agility (F = 0.991, p > 0.05) and explosive power (F = 0.812, p > 0.05). However, core temperature displayed diurnal variation (F = 15.49, p < 0.05), which peaks at 17:00 hours. It is concluded that motor fitness variables showed no significant diurnal variation of male handball players.
