The Water Polo Intermittent Shuttle Test in Women's Water Polo Players

ABSTRACT This study aimed to (a) establish the test‐retest reliability of the water polo intermittent shuttle test (WIST) in elite female water polo players, (b) investigate the validity of the WIST to determine positional differences in WIST scores within this population and (c) distinguish between competitive female playing standards. Part one involved 14 elite female water polo players (24.2 ± 3.2 years, experience > 5 years) completing the WIST on two separate occasions, separated by 48 h. In part two, 18 elite (24.4 ± 3.5 years), 7 highly trained (21.6 ± 3.2 years) and 34 trained (13–17 years) female water polo players completed the WIST. The coefficient of variation (CV), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), smallest worthwhile change (SWC) and minimal detectable change 90% CI (MDC 90 ) were calculated. The WIST demonstrated acceptable reliability (ICC = 0.93, CV = 6.7%) and usefulness to detect performance changes with SWC 0.2 (22.3 m) > TE 90% CI [(17.5 m (11.6, 23.3))], quantifying practically meaningful changes in performance (MDC 90  = 54.8 m or ∼ 4 shuttles). No significant positional differences were evident. Very large, positive, statistically significant differences were found between highly trained and trained (U14 to U17) players ( p <  0.01, g  = 3.1) and between elite and trained (U14 to U17) players ( p <  0.01, g  = 2.4). The WIST is a reliable and useful high‐intensity intermittent performance test suitable for elite female water polo players. Differences across standards of competition confirmed the sensitivity and validity of the WIST. Practitioners can quantify practically meaningful changes in WIST performance using MDC 90 .