Activity profiles and physical demands of elite women's water polo match play

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify the movement patterns of contemporary elite women's water polo match play. Thirty-three player matches (centre, n = 15 and perimeter, n = 18) were analysed using video-based time-motion analysis. Frequency and duration of individual movements and distance swum were assessed. Mean match time and playing time were 69:48 +/- 04.30 min:s and 33:14 +/- 14:40 min:s, respectively. Players performed 330 +/- 158 discrete movements per match, representing a change in movement every 6.2 s. There were 54 +/- 25 high-intensity activities per match, or one every 38.4 s. These findings characterise women's water polo as a high-intensity intermittent sport. Total distance swum per match was 699.3 +/- 296.8 m. Positional differences showed a predominance of wrestling in centre players (4:13 vs. 1:53 min:s; P < 0.001) and sprint swimming in perimeter players (2:09 vs. 0:52 min:s; P < 0.001). Players performed 6.7 +/- 3.5 repeated high-intensity activity bouts per match, suggesting that this facet of play is important in water polo. Overall, exercise intensity decreased as a match progressed, suggesting the likelihood of fatigue during the latter stages. These findings provide important information for the planning and monitoring of training in women's water polo.

Performance Decrement and Skill Deterioration During a Water Polo Game are Linked With the Conditioning Level of the Athletes

“…These activities may progressively increase the metabolic perturbation and cardiovascular strain leading to both upperbody and lower-body performance deterioration. Previous studies have reported reduced mean heart rate toward the last minutes of a water polo game (5,18,21) and a substantial reduction of the number of high-intensity activities in the fourth period of the game compared with the first one (16,26).…”

“…Repeated sprints together with several explosive-type activities and dynamic body contacts among opponents (high-intensity activities), interspersed with low-intensity efforts (slow swimming and treading water), frequently occur during a water polo game (19,26). These activities may progressively increase the metabolic perturbation and cardiovascular strain leading to both upperbody and lower-body performance deterioration.…”

Throwing Velocities, Anthropometric Characteristics, and Efficacy Indices of Women's European Water Polo Subchampions

“…W ater polo is a very stressful body-contact team sport that combines high-intensity short duration efforts such as swimming at maximum speed, elevation of the body from the water, and throwing, with rest or low intensity actions (31). In addition, players need considerable strength to hit, block, push, and hold other players during game play (28,33).…”

Physical and Energy Requirements of Competitive Swimming Events

“…Water polo is a popular team sport that requires a welldeveloped level of swimming fitness; strength and power to compete successfully in contact situations; technical skills in catching, passing, and shooting the ball; and decision-making and team strategies and tactics (Tan et al, 2009). The energetic demands of water polo can be characterized as highly intermittent, ranging from relatively low-intensity activity such as treading water to sudden bursts of supramaximal power during competition and practice (Pinnington et al, 1988;Smith, 1998).…”