Published in:
01-04-2018 | Original Article
Aerobic capacities, anaerobic power, and anthropometric characteristics of elite female canoe polo players based on playing position
Published in: Sport Sciences for Health | Issue 1/2018
Login to get accessAbstract
Purpose
To determine the aerobic capacities, anaerobic power, and anthropometric characteristics of elite female canoe polo players. A secondary purpose was to investigate positional differences between goalkeepers (GKs), flat 3 defenders (FDFs), and chase defenders (CHDFs).
Methods
Twenty-one elite female canoe polo players (age 26.8 ± 2.1 years; height 166.9 ± 5.2 cm; body mass 61.4 ± 7.1 kg; and percent body fat 21.0 ± 3.8%) volunteered. Anthropometric variables, peak oxygen uptake (\( \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}} \)), ventilatory threshold (VT), anaerobic peak power output (PPO), and mean power output (MPO) were determined.
Results
\( \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{ 2 {\text{peak}}}} \) was 40.88 ± 4.0 ml kg−1 min−1 or 2.50 ± 0.29 l min−1, VT was 79.1 ± 8.6 \( \% \dot{V}O_{2peak} \), PPO was 348.7 ± 32.1 W, 5.66 ± 0.64 W kg−1, and MPO was 266.5 ± 29.4 W, 4.37 ± 0.56 W kg−1. CHDFs and FDFs had significantly (p < 0.05) greater relative \( \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}} \) (19.5 and 15.0%, respectively) compared to GKs. GKs were significantly (p < 0.05) taller than CHDFs (6.3%) and FDFs (4.8%).
Conclusions
Elite female canoe polo players have well-developed oxidative and non-oxidative energy systems, as well as low percent body fat. Positional differences demonstrated that CHDFs and FDFs had significantly higher aerobic power compared to GKs; however, GKs were significantly taller. These results may assist the coach or sport scientist to construct and implement tailored training programs and may be beneficial for talent identification.