Idrizović, K. et al.: Physiological diferencess between top elite and elite… Sport Science 6 (2013) 2: 59‐65 PHYSIOLOGICAL DIFERENCESS BETWEEN TOP ELITE AND ELITE WATERPOLO PLAYERS Kemal Idrizović1, Drago Milošević1 and Ratko Pavlović2 1 Faculty of sport and physical education, University of Montenegro 2 Faculty physical culture and sport, University East Sarajevo Original scientific paper Abstract The aims of this study were to establish the physiological attributes of top elite (the second position on the World Championship in Barcelona 2013) and elite (the fourth position in The Adriatic league in season 2012/13) male water polo players, and to determine whether these attributes discriminate top elite players from elite players. Measurements and tests of basic anthropometry (body hieght, body mass, BMI, arm span, leg length), and specific motor abilities, swimming speed, throwing velocity and maximal force capacity were conducted on two occasions, separated by one day. A total of 22 water polo players, 11 top elite and 11 elite (24.26±2.78 vs. 21.83±2.67 years of age) participated in this study. Of all applied tests and measures, they statistically significantly differed only in the results of two specific motoric tests: throwing velocity (78.81±3.84 vs. 71.27±4.29 km/h, p˂0.01) and test of maximal force capacity (46.72±6.13 vs. 40.38±3.79 kg, p˂0.01). This study revealed that the main differences between top elite and elite water polo players are in abilities of maximum shot velocity and the production of a maximum force. The results therefore identify important factors for elite players to improve in the transition phase from elite to top elite level. Key words: anthropometry, motor abilities, differences, water polo Introduction The history of water polo lasts more than 150 For all this time, the development of water polo as years. During this period, this play has a sport game would flow and this lasts also in significantly changed and developed to the present these days. Water polo is today a game that level, which makes water polo one of the most captures a number of different facets of some of interesting sport games. Since the number of the more popular sports in world culture. To countries where the top water polo is played is a visualize the sport, combine the dual skills of relatively small (Hungary, Serbia, Italia, swimming and ball handling and, add to it the Montenegro and Spain), the popularity of this physicality and power play opportunities of sport on the global level is a little weaker than hockey, the fast break opportunities and passing other sport disciplines. This also can be a reason of basketball with the pivot (center) position, and why in bases there is a smaller number of studies the penetration and goalie play of soccer. Water carried out on water polo compared to sport polo players typically swim over 1.5 miles (2414 games such as football, basketball, handball or m) in a game (Snyder, 2008). volleyball. Regardless of such facts, water polo develops as a game and the need for new A panel of eight exercise physiologists ranked researches is ever growing. For one and a half of water polo highest in athleticism when comparing century, the functional game demands of water it to badminton, baseball, basketball, cross- polo players have incomparably grown so, as the country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, time elapsed, physiological and playing profiles tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. experienced big changes. So far, all this have This ranking included measures for aerobic made water polo one of most complex sport endurance, agility, anaerobic endurance, body games nowadays. The game (water polo) has as composition, quickness, skill, speed and strength its roots the aquatic festivals, called galas, which (Ludovise, 1991). Game like water polo is a vary were held in the English resort towns in the mid- stressful body-contact team sport that combines 1800’s. In order to attract more spectators the high-intensity short duration efforts such as festivals included a rugby-style game which swimming at maximum speed, elevation of the involved a submersible ball. The name is the only body from the water, and throwing, with rest or connection between water polo and the horse low-intensity actions (Tan et al., 2009). Water version, as polo was derived from the East Indies polo makes large demands on aerobic and word “pulu” which means ball. The first “pulu” ball anaerobic systems. The variety of work involved in was made of Indian rubber (Smith, 1990). In the the game for field players can be broken down as following period, such a figured out game will roughly 50-60% aerobic, 30-35% anaerobic, and experience big number of changes and 10-15%, immediate energy (ATP) system (Smith, adaptations, during which it would be called with 1998). Water polo players’ heart rates have been various names such as ”water hand-ball”, “aquatic measured in excess of 150 beats per minute for football”, “water rugby”, and a dilemma about the 91.8% of actual playing time (Pinnington et al., name would be finished by the present name. 1987). 59 Idrizović, K. et al.: Physiological diferencess between top elite and elite… Sport Science 6 (2013) 2: 59‐65 On the other hand, water polo players blood once won the second position in Europe, then they lactate levels have been measured at a range of were the winners of World league, two times the 7-9 mmol/l for elite male players. Each of fourth at the Olympic Games, while the majority of individual activities, which a water polo player members of Montenegrin national team were the performs during the game, is itself a very members of teams which have been the winners demanding in a physiological sense. The entire of LEN Champions league in last ten years. The system of all these activities makes water polo a sample of 11 elite players was made of Water Polo sport game, which, because of this, has a very Club Budva m-tel players (21.83 ± 2.67 years), complex and difficult training processes of which competes in Adriatic Water Polo League, conditioning character. Exactly these trainings in which is probably most quality league in the world, concrete terms depend on an entire physiological for several years. The participants read and signed burden which is placed by a water polo playing. statements of informed consent before Physiological measurements obtained during game participants in the study. play indicate a cumulative effect of the repeated sequences of activities and suggest there is a high Experimental Approach to the Problem metabolic demand on the athletes. The multiple The study was performed in two phases during individual skills and movements required for two last weeks of March of 2013. The first phase playing water polo also place considerable was performed during last two matches of demands on the neuromuscular system. Montenegrin national water polo team in the Observations of the frequency and duration of the framework of qualifications for World league in different activities, and of the physiological water polo 2013 (where Montenegro, in the group responses to participating in a water polo match, with Croatia, Greece and Turkey, won the first are initial sources of information for designing position winning all six matches), and which also training programmes specific to the game and to was a part of preparation for 15th FINA World the different playing positions (Smith, 1998). Championship in Barcelona. During two days, Beside these information, those information firstly anthropometric and then, on the second defining the differences in profiles of top players in day, functional motoric testing were carried out. comparison to water polo players of lower level The second part of testing, which was carried out are designated as the very important. This is in an identical way as the previous, was related to shown as a particularly important in case where it the testing of players of Water polo Club Budva, is necessary to differentiate top elite from elite and it was carried out in approximately the same level, namely which are characteristics time interval, as the previous measurement, and determining the difference between the best world during which the players would be in a standard players and those who are positioned at a level competition training program in the framework of beneath them. Are these differences, which Adriatic Water Polo League matches. undoubtedly exist, of functional-motoricity type or technically-tactical type? Can these differences be Variables found within morphological characteristics, Measuring of anthropometric characterstics was because some previous studies have discovered performed by trainied and experienced the existence of these differences between investigators according to the International player’s positions (Lozovina et al., 2009)? Can Biological Program (Weiner and Lourie, 1969). The these differences be detected at all, or are they subjects were measured in the early morning hidden in the specificities of each variable during a single session. Unilateral measurements individually applied? On the basis of such a were taken on the right side of the body. The problem the main goal of this research is participants wore „light clothing“ but no shoes. determined and it has an intention to determine differences between top elite and elite water polo Anthropometric characteristics were measured in players in their basic anthropometric and specific- the following order: body height, body mass, arm fitness characteristics. As an additional goal of this span and leg length. Anthropometric equipment study, a determining of profiles of top elite and used included anthropometer and weighting scale. elite water polo players, within the applied The body height and body mass were assessed anthropometric indicators and sport-specific using a Seca stadiometer and weighting scales abilities is designated.