Aerobic capacities, anaerobic power, and anthropometric characteristics of elite female canoe polo players based on playing position

Abstract

To determine the aerobic capacities, anaerobic power, and anthropometric characteristics of elite female canoe polo players. A secondary purpose was to investigate positional differences between goalkeepers (GKs), flat 3 defenders (FDFs), and chase defenders (CHDFs). Twenty-one elite female canoe polo players (age 26.8 ± 2.1 years; height 166.9 ± 5.2 cm; body mass 61.4 ± 7.1 kg; and percent body fat 21.0 ± 3.8%) volunteered. Anthropometric variables, peak oxygen uptake ( $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}} $$ ), ventilatory threshold (VT), anaerobic peak power output (PPO), and mean power output (MPO) were determined. $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{ 2 {\text{peak}}}} $$ was 40.88 ± 4.0 ml kg−1 min−1 or 2.50 ± 0.29 l min−1, VT was 79.1 ± 8.6  $$ \% \dot{V}O_{2peak} $$ , PPO was 348.7 ± 32.1 W, 5.66 ± 0.64 W kg−1, and MPO was 266.5 ± 29.4 W, 4.37 ± 0.56 W kg−1. CHDFs and FDFs had significantly (p < 0.05) greater relative $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}} $$ (19.5 and 15.0%, respectively) compared to GKs. GKs were significantly (p < 0.05) taller than CHDFs (6.3%) and FDFs (4.8%). Elite female canoe polo players have well-developed oxidative and non-oxidative energy systems, as well as low percent body fat. Positional differences demonstrated that CHDFs and FDFs had significantly higher aerobic power compared to GKs; however, GKs were significantly taller. These results may assist the coach or sport scientist to construct and implement tailored training programs and may be beneficial for talent identification.