INTRODUCTION Shooting is one of the most important performance prerequisites in water polo (Alcaraz, Abraldes, Ferragut et al., 2012). The subject of this study was the throwing behaviour of the world class players under competition match conditions during the final "World Cup Water Polo" tournament 2018 in Berlin. On the basis of the dynamical systems approach, the goal shot has to be interpreted as the result of a macroscopic interpersonal coordination of the attackers in relation to the interpersonal coordination of the defenders. An important key performance indicator describing the macroscopic formations of the players as agents in a complex adaptive system is the space control in front of the goal (Headrick, Davids, Renshaw et al., 2012). METHODS On the basis of video data from cameras mounted to the rooftop 15 m above the playground, and notational analysis we investigated all N = 1482 goal shots from all 24 tournament matches, and obtained an observational quality for observer agreement with a Cohens` Kappa of k =0.903. Specifically, we analysed successful throwing actions only in the position attacks (during 6-vs-6 position attack and 6-vs-5 man-up attack) within an 8*15 m rectangular game zone in front of each goal. Based on the positions and trajectories of the players and the ball the key performance indicator space control was analysed by means of Voronoi-cells (Hochstein, Hohenstein & Hohmann, 2022). RESULTS The area of the Voronoi- cells differed in defending and attacking teams as well as between successful and non-successful teams. Thus, space control was validated as a key performance indicator for successful versus failed goal shots. The attacking six players controlled a significantly larger field area in front of the opponent`s goal than the six defensive players together with their goalkeeper (p < 0.05). In the case of unsuccessful attacking attempts, this area ratio was exactly reversed (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION Generally speaking, when scoring a goal in water polo, the top international water polo teams try to increase their control of space in front of the opponent`s goal primarily through quick position changes in the attack. On elite level, that superior space control both in the positional attack and in defence leads to a significantly higher rate of goal scoring or goal prevention.
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