Competitive success factors of forwards in elite water polo

Objective of the study was to rate the forwards' swimming techniques versus the competitive success rates in the water polo teams. The authors made a content analysis of the 2016 Olympics video replays with application of the qualitative and quantitative performance rates to analyze the competitive swimming techniques and game tactics of the leading forwards. It was found that the team competitive performance may be rated by the following criteria: (1) team standing on the tournament scoreboard; (2) goals scored; and (3) goals conceded. The study data were processed using the data averaging, correlation and factor analyses to offer a statistical model of the competitive swimming techniques applied by the elite water polo players. The study findings were used to offer the sets of swimming skills training exercises to model competitive performance of the elite forwards in water polo. © 2018 Teoriya i praktika fizicheskoy kul'tury i sporta. All rights reserved.