Swimming Capacities in High-Level youth Water Polo; Playing-Position Specifics

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to establish differences in swimming capacities between groups of water polo athletes, based on their primary involvement in four game-positions (Centres, Wings, Drivers and Points). The sample of respondents consisted of 82 high-level youth water polo youth players (aged 17 – 19 years, body height 186.3 ± 6.07 cm; body mass 84.8 ± 9.6 kg). The sample of variables included body height and body mass, and the following four tests of swimming abilities: sprint swimming over 25 metres, short-distance- swimming over 100 metres, anaerobic swimming capacity (swimming 50 – metres- four times (with 30s pause); and aerobic swimming capacity (swimming 400- metres). After reliability analyses, differences between the groups were established by means of an analysis of variance with Schefee post-hoc test where appropriate. Swimming capacities are found to be differentially associated with playing positions. While the Wings are superior in sprint - swimming, the Points dominated in short-distance- swimming- capacity. Playing- positions did not significantly differ in anaerobic - or aerobic- swimming- capacities. Professionals working with young athletes should be aware of these results and use the presented values as normative data.