Physiological and Tactical On-court Demands of Water Polo

Abstract

Botonis, PG, Toubekis, AG, and Platanou, TI. Physiological and tactical on-court demands of water polo. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-The purpose of the present review is to provide a quantification of the specific game's activities performed by elite water polo players and a comprehensive overview of the physiological requirements reflecting physical and tactical on-court demands in water polo. Game analysis demonstrates that various swimming movements occur throughout a match play, although approximately 50% of these are recorded in horizontal body position. The various offensive and defensive tactical actions transiently modify the playing intensity, which overall corresponds to the players' lactate threshold. Even play corresponds to 60% of total game actions, whereas the respective percentage of power-play and counterattacks may exceed 30%. The ability to perform high-intensity activities with short recovery periods is critical for water polo players. Elite water polo players present a high level of aerobic power and endurance as indicated by their maximal oxygen uptake and speed at the lactate threshold. Depending on the positional roles, outfield players are characterized as centers or peripherals. The overall physiological load seems to be similar between players at various positions, despite that centers execute more dynamic body contacts, whereas peripherals more swimming bouts. Despite limitations concerning the experimental setting, the current findings indicate that the incidence of fatigue deteriorates playing intensity and performance. Nonetheless, data from the reviewed studies should be cautiously interpreted because in some of the studies, players' substitutions were not allowed. A high conditioning level is essential for water polo, as it is associated with superior technical and tactical efficacy and lower decline of physical or technical performance within the game.

Actual Playing Time of Water Polo Players in Relation to the Field Position

“…Indeed, variations are revealed in covered distances, speeds, and blood lactate levels among water polo field positions (Melchiorri et al, 2010). These differences can be also found in the number of actions specific to the various positions, both in men and women, requiring different percentages of physical effort (Botonis et al, 2018). The same amount of MAPT could therefore involve a different physiological effort according to a player's position.…”

“…All these aspects (intrinsic characteristics of the game) can influence the Game MAPT. Play intensity tends to decrease toward the end of the game as the effect of match-induced fatigue, both in water polo ( Botonis et al, 2016a , 2016b ; Melchiorri et al, 2010 ; Platanou and Geladas, 2006 ) and other team sports ( Michalsik et al, 2015 ; Povoas et al, 2014 ; Montgomery et al, 2008 ) and playing time is a factor that influences match-induced fatigue, which impairs the water polo player's performance ( Botonis et al, 2018 ). The handling of players and substitutions by a coach play a key role in the attempt to control play time and therefore, maintain a good level of performance ( Karcher and Bucheit, 2014 ).…”

“…Data about training sessions or particular tournaments can be useful to the coach considering strategy and a training program design in tapering and peaking performance ( Mujika, 2009 ). In shorter tournaments of 7-10 days (24-48 hours of rest between games), coaches should take into account Game and Tournament MAPT (considering the games played at the moment) value to avoid fatigue mismanagement which negatively affects performance ( Botonis et al, 2018 ; Montgomery et al, 2008 ; Tanaka and Swensen, 1998 ). Instead, during a championship of several months, less engaged athletes in official competitions can receive over time a lower total number of training stimuli, given that the competition is one of the most intense stimuli to which the athlete is subjected.…”

Evaluation of Physical Fitness in Water Polo Players According to Playing Level and Positional Role

“…Due to the high presence of dynamic actions that occur in water polo match-play (body contacts/wrestling, fast swimming, offence or defence actions), an adequate strength level is essential for water polo players [3]. Accordingly, dry-land strength training has been extensively recommended in the literature, as it induces considerable gains in the maximal strength level of elite or top-class water polo players [4,12,13].…”

“…Water polo players participate in several high-intensity bouts separated by lower-intensity efforts [1,2], suggesting that high levels of strength and aerobic and anaerobic capacity are essential for successful participation in elite water polo leagues [3]. Recent evidence suggests that the swimming velocity corresponding to 4.0 mmol·L −1 (V4), 5.0 mmol·L −1 (V5), and 10.0 mmol·L −1 (V10) as well as the differential velocity between 10–5 mmol·L −1 (V10–V5) are indicators of the aerobic and anaerobic potential of water polo players [4,5,6].…”