MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS ASTHE PREDICTORS OF SITUATIONAL SUCCESSFUL IN THE WATER POLO

Abstract

At the sample of 39 water polo players, aged 12 years (± 6 months), the research was conducted to
determine the impact of morphological characteristics on the situational performance in the water
polo. In this paper, a set of 12 anthropometric measures as a predictor set of variables was applied,
while the criterion variables were situational motor tests; swimming speed at 25 meters with and
without a ball, vertical jump from the water and side swimming 8 times 2.5 meters. On the basis of the
obtained results it was concluded that the morphological characteristics significantly influenced the
performance of situational motoric tasks in water polo, depending on the test from 39% to as much as
71%. The most significant applied variables from the morphological space of water polo players were
variables; the volume of the thorax, the height of the body, the width of the hand and the foot with a
positive effect, while the weight of the body and the subcutaneous fatty tissue were aggravating factors
for the performance of situational motoric tasks for the 12-year-old water polo players.