title: Enhancing performance in professional water polo players: dryland training, in-water training, and combined training.
abstract: We compared the effects of 6 weeks of dryland, in-water-specific strength training and plyometric training combined with a water polo (WP) training program on 7 sport-specific performance parameters. Thirty professional players were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups: combined training (CG), in-water-specific strength (WSG), and plyometrics (PG). The program included 3 weekly strength training sessions and 5 days of WP training per week for a total of 6 weeks during the preseason. The 10-m T-agility test, 20-m maximal sprint swim, maximal dynamic strength (1 repetition maximum [1RM], bench press [BP] and full squat [FS]), in-water boost, countermovement jump (CMJ) and throwing speed (ThS) were measured before and after the 6-week training period. There were no significant differences between the groups for any of the tested variables before the initiation of the 6-week training period. After 6 weeks of training, significant improvements (p ≤ 0.001) were found in the PG group for the CMJ (6.1%) and in all groups for the in-water boost (4.4-5.1%) test. The 1RM BP (7.6-12.6%) and FS (11.5-14.6%) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased in all groups. Additionally, ThS significantly increased in all groups (11.4-17.5%), whereas the agility test was significantly decreased (-7.3%) in only the CG group. Combined, in-water-specific strength and plyometric training produced medium to large effects on most WP-specific performance parameters. Therefore, we propose preseason WP training should include a combined training program that contains dryland and in-water-specific strength and plyometric training to optimize the WP preparation for competition.
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Sport, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain; 2MasterdeFútbol, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain; and 3Centre for Exercise and Sport Science Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sáez de Villarreal
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suarez-Arrones
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Requena
authors.forename: G Gregory
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Haff
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos Veliz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D059385:Plyometric Exercise; D055070:Resistance Training; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult