An analysis of the differences between young water polo players based on indicators of efficiency

The aim of this study is the identification and explanation of parameters that describe the effectiveness of four age categories of young water polo players as well as their differences in some parameters of effectiveness. The sample for this study was 72 matches of the Croatian water polo Final Championships for the younger cadets (age under 13), cadets (age under 14), younger juniors (age under 16) and juniors (age under 19) in the 2011/12 competition season. Parameter ranges that describe efficiency in all of the four age categories of young water polo players were established. Using the Kruskal-Wallis test and multiple comparisons of mean ranks for all groups at the significance level of alpha=0, 05, the hypothesis that there are significant differences between groups of respondents in five of the seventeen variables of effectiveness was confirmed. There is a reasonable possibility that the differences are caused by the degree of learned and implemented tactical knowledge, the degree of scoring abilities, rules of the game and inequalities in biological tempo of growth and development of young water polo players. The results of this study can be applied to a systematic and structured selection of teams and players, for the selection of the appropriate match concept and for organizing practices.