ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2022 June;62(6):757-62

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12318-7

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Agility, vertical jump, and shot velocity of Brazilian water polo players: correlations and top performances analysis

Camila D. de CASTRO ¹, Guilherme TUCHER ², Diego A. PAIXÃO ¹, Dieisson M. VASQUES ¹, Nuno D. GARRIDO ³, Flávio A. de S. CASTRO ¹ ✉

¹ Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; ² Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; ³ Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

BACKGROUND: Agility, vertical jump (VJ), and shot velocity (SV) are associated with water polo (WP) performance. The aim of this study was to identify the performance in agility, VJ and SV; to verify the correlations between the variables; and to identify the 90^th and 95^th percentile of each variable.
METHODS: Fifty-five male WP players (aged 21.6±8.2 years; experience in WP: 8.5±6.1 years) were assessed in three specific in-water tests: 1) Functional Test for Agility Performance; 2) VJ; 3) SV. The 95^th and 90^th percentiles were identified (5% and 10% best results). Correlations were tested with Pearson Correlation test.
RESULTS: Agility, VJ, and SV, were, respectively: 3.8±0.3 s; 137.5±14.3 cm; and 17.9±1.4 m·s^-1. For the 95^th percentiles, nine players were identified, all different players, three at each parameter. For the 90^th percentile, 16 players were included, but just one player ws in the 10% best result for the three variables. Correlations (P≤0.05) were found for agility vs. VJ (r=-0.38) and for agility vs. SV (r=- 0.25).
CONCLUSIONS: Although correlations have been found between the variables, it was not possible to verify the pattern of better players in the three parameters evaluated.

KEY WORDS: Water sports; Motor skills; Athletic performance