Effects of Concurrent Strength and High-Intensity Interval Training on Fitness and Match Performance in Water-Polo Players
Question
How do pre-season long-interval HIT and in-season repeated-sprint HIT, both combined with strength and water-polo training, affect fitness and match-induced fatigue across a water-polo season?
Summary
Eight national-level male water-polo players were followed through a 27-week season plan. Pre-season 4 x 4 min high-intensity swimming intervals plus strength and water-polo training improved lactate-threshold swimming speeds, strength, repeated-sprint performance, and 400 m performance, while the later in-season repeated-sprint program maintained within-match repeated-sprint performance but was associated with lower aerobic capacity and pre-match performance.
Methodology
- Eight national-level male outfield water-polo players.
- 8 participants.
- Freestyle swimming.
- Work intervals: 4 min.
- Recovery: 3 min active recovery.
- Intensity: About 106% of V4.
- About 25 min for HIT block; about 1770 m total.
- Twice weekly.
- 8 weeks.
- Longitudinal single-group seasonal training study
- Aerobic swimming fitness, and Repeated sprint performance were tracked.
Outcomes
Aerobic fitness
Aerobic lactate-speed indices improved after pre-season and declined after in-season relative to pre-season.
V4, V5, V10 +9%, +7.7%, +6.7% after pre-season and -8.9%, -7.0%, -3.3% after in-season, p<0.01.
Repeated sprint
Pre-match repeated sprints improved after pre-season, declined after in-season, while mid/post-match repeated-sprint performance stayed improved versus baseline.
Pre-match repeated sprints +4.3% after pre-season, p<0.01; mid and post +4.7% and +4.4%, p<0.001.
Shooting
Shooting accuracy did not change across training periods.
p=0.49.
Insights
- For athletes, 4 x 4 min swim intervals are better supported here for pre-season aerobic development than high-volume repeated sprints alone.
- Repeated-sprint blocks may need added aerobic maintenance to avoid loss of aerobic capacity.
Limitations
- Small sample
- No control group
- Athlete-only
- HIT modes applied in fixed order
- Concurrent strength and technical/tactical training
- Internal training load not measured
Safety
- No adverse events or injuries were reported.
- Article notes internal training load was not measured.