Acta Medica Medianae
Vol. 46, No 4, December, 2007
UDK 61
YU ISSN 0365-4478

Contakt: Dragan Radovanovic
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education
10a Čarnojevic Street
18000 Nis, Serbia
Phone: 018/ 511-940 lok.106
E-mail: drdr@bankerinter.net

PHYSIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF ELITE WOMEN WATER POLO PLAYERS
 

Dragan Radovanovic 1, Tomislav Okicic 1 and Aleksandar Ignjatovic 2

Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, Serbia 1
Faculty of Pedagogy in Jagodina, University of Kragujevac2

The present investigation aimed to determine the physiological profile of the best female water polo players in Serbia, with the purpose to use the obtained results as a guideline in the process of selection and planning of the sports form development. The parameters which should show physiological adaptation to specific kind and type of training were followed during preparatory period before the 2006 European Championship. Twelve water polo players (mean+/-SD: age 23.8+/-3.1 years, height 173.2+/-3.9 cm, body mass 65.7+/-7.4 kg, fat mass 17.8+/-5.3) of the Serbian women’s national water polo team participated in the investigation. The results of our investigation show great anaerobic capacity and muscular strength of upper body (mean+/-SD: peak power 8.05 +/-0.8 W.kg^-1, mean power 6.5+/-0.4 W.kg^-1, very high aerobic endurance (mean+/-SD: VO₂(max) 46.52+/-7.0 mL O₂ (min^-1kg^-1) on arm ergometer, VO₂ (max) 61.8+/-11.9 mL O₂ (min^-1kg^-1 on leg ergometer)) and high values of lung function parameters. The great  strength of the upper body and pronounced aerobic endurance of the whole organism are dominant characteristics of elite female water polo players. Along with a relatively pronounced body height, and a low percentage of the fat tissue, these female athletes are very well predisposed for adaptation on great physical demands over the whole match. Acta Medica Medianae 2007;46(4):48-51.

Key words: water polo, training, strength, women

Fulll text