The Water Polo Intermittent Shuttle Test in Women's Water Polo Players

TL;DR

The study shows that the Water Polo Intermittent Shuttle Test (WIST) is a reliable and valid tool for assessing performance in elite female water polo players.

Contribution

The WIST is validated as a reliable and sensitive test for measuring performance differences in elite female water polo players across competitive levels.

Findings

The WIST demonstrated high reliability with ICC = 0.93 and CV = 6.7%.

Significant performance differences were found between elite and trained players.

The WIST can detect meaningful performance changes using MDC90 metrics.

Abstract

This study aimed to (a) establish the test‐retest reliability of the water polo intermittent shuttle test (WIST) in elite female water polo players, (b) investigate the validity of the WIST to determine positional differences in WIST scores within this population and (c) distinguish between competitive female playing standards. Part one involved 14 elite female water polo players (24.2 ± 3.2 years, experience > 5 years) completing the WIST on two separate occasions, separated by 48 h. In part two, 18 elite (24.4 ± 3.5 years), 7 highly trained (21.6 ± 3.2 years) and 34 trained (13–17 years) female water polo players completed the WIST. The coefficient of variation (CV), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), smallest worthwhile change (SWC) and minimal detectable change 90% CI (MDC90) were calculated. The WIST demonstrated acceptable reliability (ICC = 0.93, CV = 6.7%) and usefulness to detect performance changes with SWC0.2 (22.3 m) > TE 90% CI [(17.5 m (11.6, 23.3))], quantifying practically meaningful changes in performance (MDC90 = 54.8 m or ∼ 4 shuttles). No significant positional differences were evident. Very large, positive, statistically significant differences were found between highly trained and trained (U14 to U17) players (p < 0.01, g = 3.1) and between elite and trained (U14 to U17) players (p < 0.01, g = 2.4). The WIST is a reliable and useful high‐intensity intermittent performance test suitable for elite female water polo players. Differences across standards of competition confirmed the sensitivity and validity of the WIST. Practitioners can quantify practically meaningful changes in WIST performance using MDC90.

The water polo intermittent shuttle test (WIST) is a reliable physiological performance test to be used in elite women's water polo players.Practitioners using the WIST as part of a physiological testing battery can detect and quantify practically meaningful changes in performance outcomes.Distinct differences in WIST performance across standards of competition confirmed the discriminatory ability of the test and allowed tailored interventions to be designed in accordance with the demands of each competitive playing level.

The water polo intermittent shuttle test (WIST) is a reliable physiological performance test to be used in elite women's water polo players.

Practitioners using the WIST as part of a physiological testing battery can detect and quantify practically meaningful changes in performance outcomes.

Distinct differences in WIST performance across standards of competition confirmed the discriminatory ability of the test and allowed tailored interventions to be designed in accordance with the demands of each competitive playing level.

Figures