Anthropometric, Morphological and Somatotype Characteristics of Water Polo Players: A Meta-Analysis / Características Antropométricas, Morfológicas y Somatotípicas de los Jugadores de Waterpolo: Un Metanálisis

SUMMARY: The objective of this meta-analysis is to synthesise available research that has evaluated the anthropometric, morphological and somatotype characteristics of water polo players. Studies were identified through electronic databases and manually searched volumes of pertinent journals. It has been determined that a substantial share of the mesomorphic component characterises both male and female water polo players. The somatotype of the junior male section belongs to the balanced mesomorph, while the junior female section belongs to the endomesomorph somatotype. The research of anthropometric characteristics has yielded an average body height and weight of male and female water polo players. It has been determined that the average water polo player has undergone certain changes in terms of some anthropometric characteristics resulting from the secular trend and the morphological adaptation. Higher numerical values in terms of some skeletal dimensionality, voluminosity and body height and mass have proven to be significant indicators of athletic achievement of water polo players.

El objetivo de este metanálisis fue sintetizar la investigación disponible que ha evaluado las características antropométricas, morfológicas y somatotípicas de los jugadores de waterpolo. Los estudios se identificaron a través de bases de datos electrónicas y se realizaron búsquedas manuales en volúmenes de revistas pertinentes. Se ha determinado que una parte sustancial del componente mesomórfico caracteriza a los jugadores a los hombres y mujeres de waterpolo. El somatotipo de la sección masculina junior pertenece al mesomorfo balanceado, mientras que la sección femenina junior pertenece al somatotipo endomesomorfo. La investigación de las características antropométricas ha arrojado una estatura y un peso corporal promedio tanto de los hombre como de las mujeres jugadores de waterpolo. Se ha determinado que el jugador de waterpolo medio ha sufrido ciertos cambios en cuanto a algunas características antropométricas producto de la tendencia secular y la adaptación morfológica. Los valores numéricos más altos en términos de cierta dimensionalidad esquelética, voluminosidad y altura y masa corporal han demostrado ser indicadores significativos del rendimiento atlético de los jugadores de waterpolo.

When mathematics meets physical activity in the school-aged child: The effect of an integrated motor and cognitive approach to learning geometry.

Mathematics is a science which can lead to both anxiety in children and teaching difficulties in teachers. Together, these two difficulties can increase the time spent in teaching and learning mathematics. The aim of this study is to examine the efficiency of a new integrated mathematics/geometry and physical activity program, specifically structured for increasing learning in fourth-grade pupils. Thirty-six children (age 10.36±0.55) were divided into an experimental (n1 = 19) group and a control (n2 = 17) group. The experimental group of subjects learned mathematics and geometry via the integrated teaching method, while the control group of subjects learned these subjects via traditional teaching methods. We administered two ad hoc tests, before and after the intervention, in order to study its effect. One test was on geometry knowledge and the other on mathematics, in which there were questions about the implemented teaching topics: rectangles, squares and their perimeters. Using a factorial 2×2 ANOVA, the results after four weeks indicated that the group of subjects who gained their mathematics and geometry knowledge through our intervention program were significantly more successful (P<0.05) than the control group. Our results suggest that the integrated teaching method proposed here could be considered a useful and efficient method for teaching mathematics and geometry based on motor tasks.

The influence of the wrestling skills on the performance of the center forward and the center defender in water polo.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine and to explain the impact of learning and improving some wrestling skills on the center defender and the center forward performance in the water polo game. METHODS: This study examined the performance of 28 young water polo players divided into experimental and control groups. For both groups the effectiveness of the performance of the water polo center forward and center defender was rated before and after the treatment. The sample of variables consisted of two integrated variables: duration and efficiency of the attack duel (DEAD) and for the second duration and efficiency of the defense duel (DEDD). RESULTS: In initial testing there were not significant differences between groups in any variables. There was a statistically significant difference between the initial and final measurements in the experimental group for variable DEAD and in the control group for variable DEDD. A statistically significant difference in the final measurements between groups was recorded for both variables. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that the application of learning the wrestling technique in young water polo players can significantly improve their performance. Progress in the performance in young water polo players is achieved due to the acquisition of new motor skills and the development of specific motor abilities such as specific power and strength.

Empirical verification of the weighted system of criteria for the elite water polo players quality evaluation.

The aim of this research was to check the validity of the weighed system of criteria for evaluating the actual quality of water polo players proposed by Hraste, Dizdar and Trninic. The authors have determined the attributes of the measurement instrument for assessment of the overall performance efficiency of elite water polo players. Based on the determined descriptive indicators, on the coefficients of the relative importance of criteria, and on the degree of the objectivity level (interobservers' agreement) of the expert evaluations, it can be concluded that the measuring attributes (objectivity and sensitivity) for most of the criteria are in accordance with their relative importance coefficients for a particular position in the game. Consequently, a structure of relevant criteria is proposed for each play action position in the water polo game. The established instrument for evaluation the actual quality of the elite water polo players is a precondition to establish the professional system orientation, but it would also mean and a hypotheses for adequate design tactic model of play and a process of sports preparation. In succeeding steps of developing the system of criteria and its applicability, the latent structure of the criteria variables should be determined as well as overall importance of criteria with respect to the game of water polo.

Experts opinion about system of the performance evaluation criteria weighted per positons in the water polo game.

The goal of the research was to define experts opinion about adequate criteria for water polo players' actual quality evaluation and to determine experts opinion about weight coefficients (ponders) of the here defined criteria across the playing positions in the game of water polo. Based upon the expertise performed by ten water polo professionals, the relative importance coefficients with regard to playing positions in the game were determined for twenty seven performance evaluation criteria. High degree of interobserves' agreement was obtained regarding all positions (from 0.93 to 0.96). In concordance with the obtained results the particular playing positions were explicitly described, as well as the similarities and the differences between them were determined from the aspect of the single criteria importance. The research results could be usefully applied by the water polo practitioners for the selection and follow-up of players during training programme implementation, and for programming, control and evaluation of transformational effects.