The objective of this research was to describe anthropometric characteristics and somatotype of young water polo
players involved in two intensity levels of training – seasonal and year-round and compare their differences. Study was
conducted on 12 year old water polo players (N=30) from three water polo clubs in Biograd area (seasonal training)
and on water polo players (N=29) from two clubs in Split (year-round training). Total of 14 morphological variables
necessary for determination of somatotype characteristics were measured. In addition, body mass index (BMI),
body fat percentage (BF%) and sum of seven skinfolds (Σ7KN) were calculated. The somatotype components of the
individual subjects were calculated and water polo players were grouped in one of the 13 somatotype categories.
There was a statistically significant difference in all anthropometric variables measured, except in calf skinfold. Higher
values of all anthropometric variables, BMI, BF% and Σ7KN were recorded for water polo players from Split. Mean
somatotype of water polo players from Biograd area was 2.85-3.39-3.28, while water polo players from Split had a
mean somatotype of 3.87-4.46-2.74. Total of 8 out of 13 somatotype categories were recorded for young water polo
players from Biograd area, while 9 categories were determined for players in Split. The results of this study indicate
that certain level of selection in water polo occurs already at 12 years of age.Cilj ovom istraživanju bio je opisati i usporediti antropometrijske karakteristike i somatotip kadeta u vaterpolu uključenih
u dva nivoa treniranja – sezonalno i tijekom cijele godine. Istraživanje je provedeno na 12-godišnjim vaterpolistima iz
tri kluba s biogradskoga područja (N=30) i dva kluba iz Splita (N=29). Ukupno je mjereno 14 morfoloških varijabla
potrebnih za određivanje somatotipskih značajka. Nadalje, izračunani su indeks tjelesne mase, postotak masnog tkiva
i suma sedam kožnih nabora. Somatotipske komponente izračunane su za svakoga pojedinog sportaša, i vaterpolisti
su grupirani u jednu od 13 somatotipskih kategorija. Zabilježena je statistički značajna razlika u svim antropometrijskimvarijablama, osim u kožnom naboru potkoljenice. Veće vrijednosti svih antropometrijskih varijabla, te indeksa tjelesne
mase, postotka masnog tkiva i sume sedam kožnih nabora zabilježene su kod vaterpolista iz Splita. Srednji somatotip
vaterpolista iz Biograda iznosio je 2,85-3,39-3,28, dok je kod vaterpolista iz Splita srednji somatotip iznosio 3,87-
4,46-2,74. Ukupno osam od 13 somatotipskih kategorija je zabilježeno kod kadeta iz Biograda, dok je devet kategorija
određeno za vaterpoliste iz Splita. Rezultati ovoga istraživanja upućuju na to da se određeni nivo selekcije u vaterpolu
odvija već kod dvanaestogodišnjaka
