Reliability Study of a Functional Test for the Offensive Agility Performance in Water Polo

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Performance Analysis
• Aquatic Sports

Background:

• Agility is crucial for water polo performance.
• Existing tests may not fully capture the dynamic, offensive demands of the sport.
• Developing sport-specific tests enhances player evaluation and training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess the reliability of a novel functional agility test for water polo.
• The test incorporates reactive swimming, directional changes, and shooting tasks.
• To evaluate its utility as a measurement tool for offensive agility.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen young male water polo players participated.
• A test involving reactive swimming, maneuvers, and goal shooting from 7m and 5m was administered.
• Execution time and shooting efficiency were measured by experienced coaches.

Main Results:

• The test demonstrated good intrarater reliability (ICC: 0.87-0.88) and excellent interrater reliability (ICC: 0.97-0.98).
• No significant correlation was found between shooting performance and execution time.
• The test is a reliable tool for assessing offensive agility in water polo.

Conclusions:

• The developed functional agility test is reliable for water polo players.
• It accurately measures offensive agility in an open-skill environment.
• This tool can aid in player assessment and targeted training programs.