USE OF SWIMMING BENCH IN ASSESSMENT CONDITIONAL PARAMETRS OF WATER-POLO PLAYERS' DURING SEASON 2012/2013
Abstract
The swimming bench Biokinetic was evaluated for assessment of the fitness of water-polo players. For a group of members of the Czech national team (n = 12, 22.2+-5.6 years), basic anthropometry was monitored and a newly proposed dry-land test, simulating game situations and associated with measurement of blood lactate kinetics, was carried out twice, initially during the competitive period and then during the transitional one of the annual training cycle 2012/ 2013.
Average power achieved by players on the swim bench 246 W was lower than power reported for swimmers but higher than that for triathletes. Nevertheless, specific power 2.84 W.kg-1 related to body weight was lower than those for both swimmers and triathletes.
The increase in body circumferences and weight between competitive and transitional periods indicates the increase in fat tissue; higher blood lactate concentrations in the relaxation phase of the test observed in the transitional period corresponds to poorer efficiency of the aerobic energy system. Both these findings agree with significant detraining.
The increase in power achieved during the transition period is thus possible to ascribe to better familiarization with swimming-bench techniques during the second session rather than to improved fitness. The potential of a proposed test was verified.