Research article - (2012)11, 475 - 482
Water Polo Game-Related Statistics in Women’s International Championships: Differences and Discriminatory Power
Yolanda Escalante1,, Jose M. Saavedra1, Victor Tella2, Mirella Mansilla3, Antonio García-Hermoso1, Ana M. Dominguez1
1Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte. AFIDES Research Group, Universidad de Extremadura, Spain,
2Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte. Universitat de València,
3Escuela Universitaria de Magisterio, Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte. Universidad de Alcalá, Spain,

Yolanda Escalante
✉ Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Grupo de Investigación AFIDES, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. Universidad s/n, 10003- Cáceres, Spain
Email: yescgon@unex.es
Received: 02-04-2012 -- Accepted: 04-05-2012
Published (online): 01-09-2012

ABSTRACT

The aims of this study were (i) to compare women’s water polo game-related statistics by match outcome (winning and losing teams) and phase (preliminary, classificatory, and semi-final/bronze medal/gold medal), and (ii) identify characteristics that discriminate performances for each phase. The game-related statistics of the 124 women’s matches played in five International Championships (World and European Championships) were analyzed. Differences between winning and losing teams in each phase were determined using the chi-squared. A discriminant analysis was then performed according to context in each of the three phases. It was found that the game-related statistics differentiate the winning from the losing teams in each phase of an international championship. The differentiating variables were both offensive (centre goals, power-play goals, counterattack goal, assists, offensive fouls, steals, blocked shots, and won sprints) and defensive (goalkeeper-blocked shots, goalkeeper-blocked inferiority shots, and goalkeeper-blocked 5-m shots). The discriminant analysis showed the game-related statistics to discriminate performance in all phases: preliminary, classificatory, and final phases (92%, 90%, and 83%, respectively). Two variables were discriminatory by match outcome (winning or losing teams) in all three phases: goals and goalkeeper-blocked shots.

Key words: Performance analysis, discriminant analysis, goal, goalkeeper

Key Points
  • The preliminary phase that more than one variable was involved in this differentiation, including both offensive and defensive aspects of the game.
  • The game-related statistics were found to have a high discriminatory power in predicting the result of matches with shots and goalkeeper-blocked shots being discriminatory variables in all three phases.
  • Knowledge of the characteristics of women’s water polo game-related statistics of the winning teams and their power to predict match outcomes will allow coaches to take these characteristics into account when planning training and match preparation.








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