Lozovina et al., 2009; Tan et al., 2009), in studies which developed and validated sport-specific tests (Mujika et al., 2006; Platanou, 2005), investigations which together focused on the intensity of the game (V. Lozovina, et al., 2003), or sport tactics and related statistics of the water polo game (Platanou, 2004). However, most of the studies mentioned so far sampled adult athletes (e.g. senior-age water polo players), while position specifics were mostly analyzed among three or four playing positions (i.e. goalkeepers were frequently not included in the analysis, and/or drivers and wings were observed as a single group �C field players). As far as we are aware both problems are understandable. Water polo is not one of the most popular sports in the world (like football or basketball for example) and it is therefore hard to find an appropriate sample of subjects (i.

e. adequate number of adequately trained athletes). This is chiefly the case with goalkeepers (one or two in each team). The second problem (e.g. studies not sampling young athletes) is also a logical consequence of the available number of subjects. Most particularly, if the study of adolescent athletes is intended then, due to the process of biological maturation, the subjects have to be near the end of puberty and homogenous in age (one or two years�� age difference at the most) and/or biological age must be controlled in the analysis (Faigenbaum, et al., 2009; Gurd and Klentrou, 2003; Latt, et al., 2009; Nindl et al., 1995). Since diversity in age is not a factor which can influence anthropometric status and/or motor achievements in adulthood (i.

e. senior-age athletes), it is logically more convenient to study adult athletes. The overall status of athletes in most sports can be observed during general and specific fitness tests. While general fitness tests (i.e. general motor and/or endurance capacities) are important indices of overall fitness status and allow a comparison of athletes from different sports (Frenkl et al., 2001), specific fitness tests allow a more precise insight into sport-specific capacities and therefore provide a basis for comparing athletes in the same sport (Bampouras and Marrin, 2009; Holloway et al., 2008; Hughes et al., 2003; Sattler et al., 2011).

However, GSK-3 there is a clear lack of studies dealing with specific physical fitness profiles in water polo and, in particular, we found no study which has investigated this problem among high-quality junior water polo players. The aim of this study was to investigate the status and differences between five playing positions (Goalkeepers, Centers, Drivers, Wings and Points) in anthropometric measures and some specific physical fitness variables in high-level junior (17 to 18 years of age) water polo players. Material and Methods Participants The sample of subjects consisted of a total of 110 high-level water polo junior players.