BACKGROUND: Sprinting is a crucial action in water polo, yet the relative contribution of propulsive force and morphological traits to specific swimming velocity in youth athletes remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the relationship of maximal tethered swimming force and morphological variables with sprint performance in youth water polo athletes. METHODS: Twenty-four youth water polo players (16 males, 8 females; 12.83 ± 1.24 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric variables (body mass, sitting height, and lower limb length) were measured. Athletes performed a 30-second maximal tethered swimming test to determine absolute and relative peak force, alongside 15-meter water polo front crawl sprints with and without ball conduction. Data were analyzed using exploratory simple linear regressions and ANOVAs. RESULTS: Absolute maximal force was strongly associated with sprint velocity without a ball (R²=0.643), outperforming relative force (R²=0.329). Furthermore, sprint velocity without a ball was strongly associated with sprint velocity with a ball (R²=0.769). Morphological variables such as lower limb length (R²=0.379) and sitting height (R²=0.220) were significantly associated with absolute force but not sprint velocity directly. Notably, no significant morphological or performance differences were found between boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: Absolute propulsive force and sprint performance without ball conduction appear to be key correlates of sprint performance in youth water polo players. These findings suggest that biological maturation and technical proficiency may play a central role in early youth performance overall.
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