Models for Assessimg General Horizontal Swimming Abilities of Junior Water Polo Players

Models for Assessimg General Horizontal Swimming Abilities of Junior Water Polo Players According to Playing Position

Tactical, technical, physical demands and also playing position differences of the water polo players are very important factors for competitive success. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify general level
of horizontal swim abilities of junior water polo players according to playing positions.
The data was consisted of 71 players, members of national junior teams from: Slovenia, Turkiye, Serbia and Greece. 
Players were divided three main playing position group, peripherals (P,n=41),central defenders (CD,n=20) and centar players (C,n=13). The following six swimming test were performed, crawl; 15m, 25m, 50m, 200m, 25m crawl with head up and 25m crawl with ball. All tests were performed in the 50m swimming pool, the players started in water at the signal of the timekeeper. The results of these tests were analyzed using confirmative model of factorial analysis for the determination of the factorial scores. Following the mathematical multidimensional procedures was determined for creating model for assessing the horizontal swim score (HSS) equation for three different playing positions; for the peripherals HSS(P), for the central defenders HSS(CD) and for the centar players HSS(C). Result of HSS for three different playing positions was expressed numerically. There are no statistical differences between general level of basic horizontal swim abilities according to position.

The HSS equation has the following model for the peripherals; 
S(P)=349.882-(m15crawl*5.681)-(m25crawl*3.555)-(m50crawl*1.893) -(m200crawl*0.408)-(m25crawlHUP*3.608) - (m25crawlWB*2.844).
The HSS equation has the following model for the central defenders;
HSS(CD)=349.872-(m15crawl*5.682)-(m25crawl*3.559)-(m50crawl*1.893) - (m200crawl*0.408)-(m25crawlHUP*3.603)-(m25crawlWB*2.845).
The HSS equation has the following model for the centar players; 
HSS(C)=349.938-(m15crawl*5.679)-(m25crawl*3.557)-(m50crawl*1.893) - (m200crawl*0.408)-m25crawlHUP*3.607)-(m25crawlWB*2.845).
The results showed that best level of HSS according to positions; peripherals, centar players and central defenders at score number level: 50.34, 49.76 and 49.43 respectively. The present study provided effective information on the general level of horizontal swimming performance of elite young water polo players according to playing positions, and defined equations can be used by coaches as effective and easy to apply method for testing actual level of horizontal swimming prepearenes at junior water polo players.