CANONIC RELATIONS OF CONATIVE CHARACTERISTICS AND SUCCESS IN WATER POLO

The aim of our research was to determine the connection between the conative characteristics and success in water polo. The sample of participants for this research can be defined as the population of water polo swimmers (N=60) aged 16 to 18 years, who were only included in the study under the condition that they had taken part in the water polo training process for a period of at least four years. In order to evaluate their conative regulatory mechanisms, we relied on six primary variables: the activity regulator (EPSILON), the organic function regulator (HI), the defense reaction regulator (ALFA), the attack reaction regulator (SIGMA), the system for the coordination of regulatory functions (DELTA), the system for the integration of regulatory functions (ETA), all of which were selected so that the structure of the analysis could be carried out on the basis of the cybernetic. For the evaluation of the criterion variables, we used two variables. The first variable represents the relationship between the number of times a participant played for his team and the number of achieved victories during these matches, and the second variable represents the evaluation of technical ability on the basis of the participants’ performance on certain tests related to water polo. The relations between conative characteristics and success in water polo were determined using a canonical correlation analysis. A correlation analysis was carried out and it indicated a very high correlation between conative characteristics and success in water polo. During the training and competitive process of water polo players, the training components were well balanced, which could mean that they were optimally focused on the development of the relevant motor skills, which correlate with conative characteristics and make up the basis for the training process of water polo players.