Performance indicators characterisation of a world champion underwater rugby team in the final stages of competition

Introduction: Underwater rugby is a team sport with unique physiological and spatial characteristics. Despite its increasing international competitiveness, there is limited evidence on performance analysis. This study aimed to examine the performance indicators of the Colombian men’s team during th...

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Main Authors: Samuel José Gaviria Alzate, Wilder Geovanny Valencia-Sánchez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: FEADEF 2025-06-01
Series:Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistaretos.org/index.php/retos/article/view/113928
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author Samuel José Gaviria Alzate
Wilder Geovanny Valencia-Sánchez
author_facet Samuel José Gaviria Alzate
Wilder Geovanny Valencia-Sánchez
author_sort Samuel José Gaviria Alzate
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Underwater rugby is a team sport with unique physiological and spatial characteristics. Despite its increasing international competitiveness, there is limited evidence on performance analysis. This study aimed to examine the performance indicators of the Colombian men’s team during the final phase of the 2019 World Championship. Method: A nomothetic, longitudinal observational design was used, analyzing 2,515 sequences of offensive and defensive actions across three matches (quarter-final, semi-final, and final). Data was collected using a validated, expert-reviewed ad hoc instrument focused on passes, possession, and offensive efficiency. Descriptive statistics and heat maps were used to interpret spatial and tactical dynamics. Results: Colombia demonstrated high pass completion rates and possession dominance (over 60% of total time, and more than 75% in the offensive zone). Offensive play primarily utilized central and wall zones for passing. Offensive efficiency varied: 14.8% in the quarter-final, 3.84% in the semi-final, and 6.8% in the final. The team showed tactical consistency, maintaining clear patterns of ball distribution and territorial control. Discussion: The analysis revealed a strategy based on game control through possession and targeted use of key areas of the pool. Despite positional dominance, low goal efficiency indicates a need for improvement in offensive finishing. The findings provide useful insights for training and tactical planning, highlighting the value of performance analysis in emerging sports such as underwater rugby.
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issn 1579-1726
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series Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación
spelling doaj-art-d4d4372302504e02aae8092cb1322a142025-08-20T02:40:43ZengFEADEFRetos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación1579-17261988-20412025-06-017010.47197/retos.v70.113928Performance indicators characterisation of a world champion underwater rugby team in the final stages of competitionSamuel José Gaviria Alzate0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0631-8197Wilder Geovanny Valencia-Sánchezhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9440-6439Antioquia Institute of Technology Introduction: Underwater rugby is a team sport with unique physiological and spatial characteristics. Despite its increasing international competitiveness, there is limited evidence on performance analysis. This study aimed to examine the performance indicators of the Colombian men’s team during the final phase of the 2019 World Championship. Method: A nomothetic, longitudinal observational design was used, analyzing 2,515 sequences of offensive and defensive actions across three matches (quarter-final, semi-final, and final). Data was collected using a validated, expert-reviewed ad hoc instrument focused on passes, possession, and offensive efficiency. Descriptive statistics and heat maps were used to interpret spatial and tactical dynamics. Results: Colombia demonstrated high pass completion rates and possession dominance (over 60% of total time, and more than 75% in the offensive zone). Offensive play primarily utilized central and wall zones for passing. Offensive efficiency varied: 14.8% in the quarter-final, 3.84% in the semi-final, and 6.8% in the final. The team showed tactical consistency, maintaining clear patterns of ball distribution and territorial control. Discussion: The analysis revealed a strategy based on game control through possession and targeted use of key areas of the pool. Despite positional dominance, low goal efficiency indicates a need for improvement in offensive finishing. The findings provide useful insights for training and tactical planning, highlighting the value of performance analysis in emerging sports such as underwater rugby. https://revistaretos.org/index.php/retos/article/view/113928Ball possessionObservational designOffensive strategiesPerformance analysisUnderwater rugbyWorld Championships
spellingShingle Samuel José Gaviria Alzate
Wilder Geovanny Valencia-Sánchez
Performance indicators characterisation of a world champion underwater rugby team in the final stages of competition
Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación
Ball possession
Observational design
Offensive strategies
Performance analysis
Underwater rugby
World Championships
title Performance indicators characterisation of a world champion underwater rugby team in the final stages of competition
title_full Performance indicators characterisation of a world champion underwater rugby team in the final stages of competition
title_fullStr Performance indicators characterisation of a world champion underwater rugby team in the final stages of competition
title_full_unstemmed Performance indicators characterisation of a world champion underwater rugby team in the final stages of competition
title_short Performance indicators characterisation of a world champion underwater rugby team in the final stages of competition
title_sort performance indicators characterisation of a world champion underwater rugby team in the final stages of competition
topic Ball possession
Observational design
Offensive strategies
Performance analysis
Underwater rugby
World Championships
url https://revistaretos.org/index.php/retos/article/view/113928
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AT wildergeovannyvalenciasanchez performanceindicatorscharacterisationofaworldchampionunderwaterrugbyteaminthefinalstagesofcompetition