On-water and dryland vertical jump in water polo players.
OBJECTIVE
The performance of the vertical jump constitutes a fundamental technical ability in many team sports, including water polo. The purpose of the present study was therefore twofold: firstly, to evaluate the ability of water polo players to move their bodies vertically off the water (on-water vertical jump), and secondly, to determine on the same players their lower bodies' explosive power ability, while performing a vertical jump on dry-land (dry-land vertical jump). We also investigated whether the performance of the on-water vertical jump depends on the position of the players in the game and on competition.


METHODS
Forty-three water polo players, were tested on-water and on dry-land. The on-water vertical jump was assessed using a board with a centimeter scale attached on it. A video camera that was placed facing the board was used to record the trials of the players.


RESULTS
The mean value of the on-water vertical jump was 68.3+/-4.6 cm, whereas the mean value of the dry-land vertical jump was 49.6+/-6.5 cm. The coefficient between the 2 jumps was very low (r=0.25). Significant differences between the 2 jumps according to the players' positions and to their level of competitiveness were found.


CONCLUSIONS
The performance of the on-water vertical jump correlates poorly with the explosive ability of the lower body as that which was assessed by the dry-land vertical jump. Furthermore, the ability to move the body vertically on-water differs significantly among players, depending on their position and on the level of competitiveness.
Platanou
T
T
Laboratory of Aquatic Sports, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. tplatan@phed.uoa.gr
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D014741:Video Recording