Concurrent strength and endurance training is usually applied together with water polo training planned for improvements of technique or game tactics game specific training). However, no data exist describing the effect of such training on performance parameters in elite water polo players. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of maximal strength training and high intensity endurance training concurrent to game specific water polo training on maximal strength and swimming performance indices. Methods: Seven elite male water polo players (age: 29.6 ± 5.2 years, body mass: 91.5 ± 10.3 kg) participated in the study and completed 8 weeks of maximal strength and high-intensity endurance training concurrent with game specific water polo training during the pre-season period. Maximal strength and specific performance indices such as swimming speed corresponding to blood lactate concentration of 4.0, 5.0, 10.0 mmol/l (V4, V5, V10) and lactate tolerance ability defined as the differential velocity between blood lactate concentrations of 5.0 and 10.0 mmol/l (V10-V5) were examined using a one-group prepost-test design. The maximal strength was measured by bench press 3 repetition maximum (3RM). On a separate day, each player performed an incremental swimming test (5 X 200-m) at intensities corresponded to 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100% of maximum 200-m speed, with a 5-minute passive recovery between each effort. A blood sample was obtained at the end of each repetition for the determination of lactate concentration. The swimming velocity corresponding to V4, V5 and V10, was calculated from the speed-lactate curve by interpolation of a second order polynomial function. The intervention program consisted of endurance training (2 series of 8 X 100-m) at intensity ~5% above the V4 and maximal strength training (90% 3RM, 5 repetitions, 4 sets) which targeted on specific muscles that mainly used in water polo. Both training modes were conducted twice per week on separate days and followed by game specific water polo training. Results: Significant improvements in maximal strength (~20%, p < 0.05), in swimming speed corresponding to V4 (4 ± 4%, p < 0.05), V5 (3 ± 3%, p < 0.05) and the lactate tolerance ability (V10-V5, 30 ± 31%, p < 0.05) were observed after the training period compared to pretraining values. Conclusion: it appears that the pre-season strength and endurance training concurrent to game specific water polo training improves both swimming performance indices and muscle strength of elite water polo players.
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