Development over the last decade. Although anthropometric and physical characteristics have been studied for male sports teams, in women's handball, studies are scarce. The aim of this study was twofold: first, to describe the anthropometric characteristics, throwing velocity, hand grip, and muscular power of the lower limbs in female handball players and second, to identify the possible differences in these parameters in terms of individual playing positions (center, back, wing, pivot, and goalkeeper). A total of 130 elite female Spanish handball players participated in the study (age 25.74 ± 4.84 years; playing experience 14.92 ± 4.88 years). Anthropometric assessment was performed for all the subjects following the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry protocols. Furthermore, all the subjects performed a vertical jump test (squat jump and countermovement jump). Hand grip and throwing velocity in several situations were also assessed. A 1-way analysis of variance and a Tukey post hoc test were used to study the differences among individual playing positions. Wings were less heavy, shorter, and showed a smaller arm span than did goalkeepers, backs and pivots (p ≤ 0.001). Additionally, pivots were heavier than centers. Backs and pivots exhibited higher muscular mass than did wings. Total players' somatotype was mesomorphy endomorphy (3.89–4.28–2.29). Centers showed higher throwing velocity levels than did wings in 9-m throws from just behind the line, with a goalkeeper. Backs exhibited higher hand-grip values than did wings. Statistical differences have been established between wings and other specific playing positions, especially with pivot and backs. Coaches can use this information to select players for the different specific positions....

Anthropometry and throwing velocity in elite water polo by specific playing positions: The purposes of this study were threefold: to present the specific physical structure of elite water polo players by playing positions, to access its throwing velocity in different conditions (without goalkeeper, with goalkeeper and with previous displacement), and to observe the relationships between the assessed anthropometric and throwing velocity parameters. Nineteen water polo players of the Spanish National Team (nine offensive wings, five center back and five center forwards) were evaluated. The anthropometric profile (particularly the lengths, breaths, girths and skinfolds) was obtained according to the International Working Group of Kinanthropometry, and the throwing velocity was assessed in 3 × 2 maximal intensity shoots (3 min interval) from the penalty line using a radar. It was possible to observe higher values of body mass, BMI, and muscle mass of the center forwards compared to the wings, and foot length of the center backs compared with the wings, reflecting a specific physical profile for each playing position. However, no difference was found between groups regarding the breadths values. In addition, the somatotype of the wings is a balanced mesomorph, and the center backs and center forwards endo-mesomorphs. Despite center backs have higher hand grip values in comparison with wings, no differences were observed between specific playing positions in each throwing condition, as well as between conditions in each specific playing position. Moreover, observing the correlation coefficient values between anthropometric and throwing velocity variables by specific position for the three throwing conditions, a higher number of relationships was found for the center backs and center forwards rather than for the wings. When the total sample was analysed, a superior number of relationships was observed between the studied parameters in throwing with goalkeeper situation. These data reflects the dependence of the throwing skill on the anthropometric characteristics of water polo players.

Characteristics, maximum isometric grip strength, and competition throwing velocities and efficacy indices in high-level water polo player. Eleven elite trained male water polo players participated in this study. During preseason training, the following measures were taken: standard anthropometry (height, body mass, arm spam, skinfolds, body girths, and skeletal breadths) and grip strength. During official European Competitions (n = 7), efficacy indices (offensives: shot definition, resolution, precision, blocked and defensives: shot resolution when defending and shots stopped when defending), average and maximum throwing velocities from all the participants by zones and in some offensive tactical phases (even, counterattacks and power play) were also determined. Throwing velocities were different (p ≤ 0.05) between some of the offensive tactical phases (even = 17.9 ± 2.4 vs. power play = 16.7 ± 2.6 m·s−1). In addition, significant correlations were found between competitive throwing velocities and different offensive efficacy indices. We concluded that there were significant correlations between conditioning and performance variables with anthropometrical characteristics and offensive tactical indices (blocked shots received and shot precision). Coaches should pay attention to these indices for the development of performance throughout the season....

Alcaraz, PE, Abraldes, AJ, Ferragut, C, Rodríguez, N, Argudo, FM, and Vila, H. Throwing velocities, anthropometric characteristics, and efficacy indices of Women's European Water Polo Subchampions. J Strength Cond Res 25(11): 3051–3058, 2011—Water polo is a team sport characterized by a high-intensity, intermittent activity, where technical and tactical aspect are of a great importance. For that reason, the main aim of this study was to define the anthropometrical characteristics, maximum isometric grip strength, training and competition throwing velocities, and the efficacy indices in female high-level water polo players. A second purpose was to examine the differences between the throwing velocities in training vs. European championships in the water polo female national team. Ten elite trained female water polo players participated in this study. Before the competitive phase of their season, the following measures were taken: standard anthropometry, static and dynamic training throwing velocities, and hand-grip dynamometry. In the competitive phase, efficacy indices, average and maximum throwing velocities from all the participants were also determined. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found between different training situations and different competitive throwing velocities. We concluded that elite female water polo players modify their throwing velocity depending if the throw is performed during training or competitive situation.

We compared the hydrodynamic characteristics and pull-out strategies of four backstroke-to-breaststroke turning techniques in young swimmers. Eighteen 11 and 12-year-old swimmers participated in a 4 week intervention program including 16 contextual interference sessions. The hydrodynamic variables were assessed through inverse dynamics, and the pull-out strategy kinematics were assessed with tracking markers followed by 12 land cameras and 11 underwater cameras. Swimmers randomly completed sixteen 30 m maximal backstroke-to breaststroke-open, somersault, bucket and crossover turns (four in each technique) with a 3 min rest. The data showed higher drag force, cross-sectional area and drag coefficient values for the first (compared with the second) gliding position. The crossover turn revealed the highest push-off velocity (2.17 ± 0.05 m·s⁻¹), and the somersault turn demonstrated the lowest foot plant index (0.68 ± 0.03; 68%), which could have affected the first gliding, transition and second gliding depths (0.73 ± 0.13, 0.86 ± 0.17 and 0.76 ± 0.17 m). The data revealed the consistency of the time spent (4.86 ± 0.98 s) and breakout distance (6.04 ± 0.94 m) among the four turning techniques, and no differences were observed between them regarding time and average velocity up to 7.5 m. The hydrodynamic characteristics and pull-out strategy of the backstroke-to-breaststroke turns performed by the age group swimmers were independent of the selected technique.

The aims of this study were: 1) determine if there is a difference in the efficacy and velocity of shots between winning and losing teams 2) analyse the relationship between efficacy values according to the particular microsituations (even, power play, transition and penalty) and between winners and losers in disputed games. Seventy-two male games that formed part of the 2008 European Championship and the 2009 World Championship have been analysed. Efficacy coefficients were used to assess all of the microsituations of the game that ended with a shot to obtain efficacy values. The results presented significant differences between winning and losing teams in terms of the coefficients of definition and resolution of shots, and in the coefficient of resolution and detention of shots to goal in both championships. It could be said that the efficacy values that determine the difference between winning and losing teams are those that make reference to the accuracy of the shot. The penalty microsituation of reference is not a determining factor in the winner or loser status of a team. No differences exist in the speed of shot between winning and losing teams within the same championship but they do exist between championships.