Swimming and water polo coach I.S. Mar'in¹
Dr.Hab., Professor O.N. Stepanova²
Dr.Hab., Professor V.Y. Karpov¹
PhD, Associate Professor E.N. Latushkina^3
1Russian State Social University, Moscow
²Moscow State Pedagogical University, Moscow
³Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Moscow

Keywords: water polo, 2016 Olympics, elite water-polo players, playing positions, competitive/ game swimming strokes.

Introduction. Water polo is a sports game requiring from participants mastery of both competitive and special swimming strokes [2]. The issues of swimming training of water-polo players are covered in the research works by V.Yu. Davydov [1], M.I. Kochubey [2], L.V. Shmeleva [5], S.N. Frolova [6] et al. However, the most advanced of these sources date back to the beginning of the 2000s, and, therefore, do not make allowance for the reality of the competitive practice. After all, the competition rules, composition of the countries ranking top in water polo, the content (including the swimming strokes applied), strategy, tactics and style of water polo play activity have changed significantly in recent years.

Objective of the study was to conduct a content analysis of the video replays to determine the swimming strokes (including their application rates) applied by elite water-polo players under competitive conditions.

Methods and structure of the study. The main research method consisted in the qualitative and quantitative content analysis of the video replays of 42 matches at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with participation of 12 water-polo world leaders - teams of Greece, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Italy, Spain, France and the USA. Subject to the content analysis were the competitive/ game swimming strokes and their application rates versus the players’ playing positions (centre backs, centre forwards, wing players), being rated in the relevant units – their duration in seconds, meters and game role ratios. The study data provided a set of reference points for the swimming practices modelling the elite players’ competitive strokes.

Results and discussion. The content analysis of the video replays of the 2016 Olympic tournaments revealed (Tables 1–2) that, during the game, elite water-polo players apply almost all competitive (except for butterfly (dolphin)) and game swimming strokes. Thus, front crawl was applied on the average () for 1073.4 sec (89%) of the playing time, breast trudgen – for 45.6 sec (3.8%), sidestroke – for 40.2 sec (3.4%), back trudgen – for 21.9 sec (1.9%), back crawl – for 12.8 sec (1.1%), front breaststroke - for 9.6 sec (0.8%) of the playing time. At the same time, the ratio of the classic (sprint) and water-polo swimming strokes differed depending on the style. For instance, sprint front crawl swimming was applied by water-polo players on the average in 38%, and water-polo one – in 72% of the total application rate; sprint back crawl swimming was used on the average in 37%, and water-polo one – in 63% of the cases. Such a set and ratio of swimming strokes most fully comply with the modern water polo tasks, since the water-polo-specific front and back crawl, sidestroke, and breast and back trudgen, during which head and shoulders are kept out of the water, enable athletes to better control the game situation and challenge for the ball more effectively.

Table 1. Swimming styles and time of their application by water-polo players acting in different playing positions during the 2016 Olympics

Key: these are the indices in the best (according to the expert evaluation) players from the 12 Olympic national teams.

Table 2. Distances covered by water-polo players using various swimming strokes during 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

The content analysis of the video replays of the games revealed that, in the course of one game, the longest distance (± σ) is covered by utility forwards (1195 ± 54.3 m), a little shorter one – by wing players (1140 ± 50.8 m) and centre backs (1036 ± 38.7 m); however, the statistically significant differences were detected only between the indices registered in centre forwards and centre backs (P<0.05), as well as wing players and centre backs (P<0.05). This is mostly due to the fact that the playing time (± σ) is not the same for water-polo players acting in different playing positions: it is centre forwards (20 min 06 sec ± 1 min 39.5 sec or 63% of the total playing time) and wing players (19 minutes 52 seconds ± 2 minutes 6.3 seconds or 62% of the total playing time) who stay the longest on the field, while centre backs (in both cases the differences are significant at P<0.05) spend the least amount of time on the field (17 min 16 sec ± 1 min 19.2 sec or 53% of the total playing time).

As Table 2 shows, centre forwards apply the water-polo front and back crawl strokes, front breaststroke and sidestroke more actively compared to centre backs (P<0.01÷0.05), and they rarely apply the sprint front (P<0.05) and back (P>0.05) crawl strokes. In addition, centre forwards swim longer distances using the breast trudgen stroke, as opposed to defenders (P<0.05).

Forwards’ swimming parameters bear the greatest resemblance to those of centre backs – we detected the statistically significant differences in the distances covered using only three of the eight swimming strokes: water-polo front crawl (P<0.05), breast trudgen (P<0.01) and sidestroke (most actively applied by forwards as opposed to centre backs).

Such a set and ratio of swimming strokes correspond to the specificity of the water-polo playing positions [3, 4]. Thus, a centre forward’s missions are: to snag the opponent’s pass and press him/her, spot the centre backs, arrange for the co-players’ attacks, and, on the contrary, "blow" the opponent's attack, dribble rapidly to the opponent's net, which requires active application of the game swimming strokes. The broad mission of centre forwards and centre backs consists in the rapid dribbling (upon successful defence of own net) towards the opponent’s net. Centre backs try to create as much space as possible between the opposing forwards and their team’s net, so that the opponent would spend as much power as possible, and the forwards - to pass the ball or score a goal. This explains the active use by forwards and backs of the sprint strokes. What is more, one of the forwards’ missions is to perform offensive actions with the ball, which implies a wider (in comparison with the backs) application of such swimming strokes as breast trudgen and sidestroke.

The content analysis of the video replays of the 2016 Olympic Game also revealed that: the swimming load during the match is not uniform, it is represented by the alternation of segments (for centre backs - from 15 to 25 m, for centre forwards - from 5 to 25 m, for wing players - from 5 to 20 m) at the speed close to the maximum, with swimming in place, walking in water and performing water-polo maneuvers. For centre backs such maneuvers are: jumping out, lifting, halting; for centre forwards – jumping out, kick-outs, fakes, halting; for wing players – jumping out, lifting, kick-outs.

The content analysis of the video replays of the matches revealed that, while solving the game problems, water-polo players often switch their swimming strokes. Backs forwards most often demonstrate such combinations as: sprint front crawl followed by water-polo front crawl, sprint back crawl or water-polo back crawl; water-polo front crawl changing to breast trudgen, sprint front crawl, water-polo back crawl or back trudgen; sprint back crawl changing to water-polo back or front crawl, classic front crawl, back trudgen; water-polo back crawl followed by back trudgen, water-polo front crawl or breast trudgen; breast trudgen changing into water-polo front crawl, sidestroke or back trudgen; combination of back trudgeon and water-polo front crawl, breast trudgen or water-polo back crawl; sidestroke followed by water-polo front crawl; front breaststroke changing into breast trudgen, water-polo front crawl or sidestroke.

Centre backs and forwards most often apply the following combinations of swimming strokes: sprint front crawl changing to water-polo front crawl; water-polo back crawl or sprint back crawl; water-polo front crawl changing to breast trudgen, sprint front crawl, water-polo back crawl, back trudgen or sidestroke; sprint back crawl together with water-polo back crawl, classic front crawl, water-polo front crawl or back trudgen; water-polo back crawl changing to back trudgen or water-polo front crawl; breast trudgen together with water-polo front crawl, sidestroke or back trudgen; back trudgen changing to water-polo front crawl, breast trudgen or water-polo back crawl; sidestroke followed by water-polo front crawl, breast or back trudgen; front breaststroke changing to water-polo front crawl, breast trudgen or sidestroke.

The study findings made it possible to develop sets of swimming exercises for elite water-polo players simulating the game conditions, some of which are provided below:

For utility forwards: 1) from the goalkeeper position - 15 m water-polo front crawl swimming at the maximum speed, then – kicking out and sidestroke in the opposite direction (4-5 series, 8 sets per each series); 2) from the goalkeeper position - a 15 m acceleration using the water-polo front crawl stroke, then – forward roll with a half turn followed by 3 cycles of breast trudgen, after which – back drop and water-polo back crawl swimming (4-5 series, 8×25m in 45-sec mode); 3) 3 cycles of sidestroke followed by a 5m acceleration using the water-polo back crawl stroke, then – front drop and 5m acceleration using the water-polo front crawl stroke (4-5 series, 8 sets per each series); 4) 5 m breast trudgen swimming, then - a 5 m acceleration using the back trudgeon stroke followed by the water-polo back crawl, then – a 5 m acceleration using the water-polo front crawl stroke (4-5 series, 8 sets per each series).

For defenders and wing forwards: 1) sprint front crawl swimming 4-5 series of 8×50 m in 45-sec mode; 2) water-polo front crawl swimming (in the 25m pool) 4-5 series of 8×50 m in 1-min mode, without touching the side of the pool on turns; 3) from the goalkeeper position - a 15m acceleration using the water-polo front crawl stroke, then - halt and another 15m acceleration in the opposite direction using the water-polo back crawl stroke (4-5 series, 8 sets per each series); 4) swimming in place in the goalkeeper position, then – by the coach’s command, a 15m acceleration using the water-polo back crawl style, then – 5 m front trudgen swimming at a calm pace (4-5 series, 8 sets per each series).

Conclusion. The study findings on the elite water-polo players’ competitive swimming strokes (including their application modes) may be applied for reference in the swimming training programs being designed for water-polo players of different skill levels. These programs are being developed at the premises of the Sports Club at Russian State Social University.

References

1. Davydov V.Yu., V.B. Avdienko, V.Y. Karpov Otbor i kontrol v plavanii na etape mnogoletney podgotovki sportsmenov. Uchebno-metod. posobie [Selection and control in swimming at long-term training stage: teaching aid]. Moscow: Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury, 2003, 101 p.
2. Kochubey M.I. Mnogoletnee planirovanie spetsialnoy plavatelnoy i tekhnicheskoy podgotovlennosti yunykh vaterpolistov 12–16 let. Avtoref. dis. kand. ped. nauk [Long-term planning of special swimming and technical fitness of young water polo players aged 12-16 years]. Moscow: GTsOLIFK publ., 1989, 23 p.
3. Mar'in I.S., Stepanova O.N. Sorevnovatelnye obyem i effektivnost spetsialnoy plavatelnoy podgotovlennosti vaterpolistov vysokoy kvalifikatsii: rezultaty kontent-analiza igr Chempionata Evropy 2015 g. i Chempionata mira 2016 g. [Competitive scope and efficiency of special swimming skills of highly skilled water polo players: results of content analysis of European Championship 2015 and World Cup 2016 games]. Uch. zapiski un-ta im. P.F. Lesgafta, 2016, no. 7 (137), pp. 60–66.
4. Mar'in I.S., Stepanova O.N. Organizatsiya i soderzhanie plavatelnoy podgotovki yunykh vaterpolistov na etape sportivnogo sovershenstvovaniya [Organization and content of swimming training of junior water polo players at sports mastery stage]. Pedagogiko-psikhologicheskie i mediko-biologicheskie problemy fizicheskoy kultury i sporta, 2016, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 23–32.

Corresponding author: stepanova.olga.75@gmail.com

Abstract

Subject to the study were the elite water-polo players’ competitive swimming strokes and their relative application rates versus the players’ playing positions in top-ranking competitions. Qualitative and quantitative input data for the study were provided by the content analysis of video replays of 43 matches at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with participation of the national teams of Greece, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Italy, Spain, France and the USA. Subject to the content analysis were the competitive swimming stroke elements (units) and their application rates versus the players’ playing positions (centre backs, centre forwards, wing players), the styles and their shares being rated in the relevant units – seconds, meters and playing positions ratios. The study data and analyses provided a set of reference points for the swimming practices modelling the elite players’ competitive swimming strokes. The study findings on the elite water-polo players’ competitive swimming strokes and their relative application rates may be applied for reference in the swimming training systems designed for water-polo players of different skill levels.