The aim of this research was to determine the differences between the cadets (U15) water polo players of national teams of Montenegro and Croatia in the body composition and anthropometric characteristics. A sample of 32 subjects was divided into two sub-samples. The first sub-sample of the subjects was consisted of 16 water polo players of Montenegro national team of the average age 14.69±.48, the vice champions on the European Championships in Burgas (Bulgaria) 2019, while the other sub-sample was consisted of 16 water polo players of national team of Croatia of the average age of 14.75±.45, who occupied the eighth position on the European Championships in Burgas (Bulgaria) 2019. Water polo players were tested at the final preparations just before the European championship. Body composition and anthropometric characteristics were evaluated by a battery of 11 variables: body height, body weight, triceps skinfold, biceps skinfold, skinfold of the back, abdominal skinfold, upper leg skinfold, lower leg skinfold, body mass index, fat percentage and muscle mass. The standard central and dispersion parameters of all variables were calculated. The significance of the differences between the water polo players of two national teams in the variables for assessing body composition and anthropometric characteristics was determined by a t-test for independent samples. It was found that there are statistically significant differences in five variables, in three variables at p<0.01 (body height, triceps skinfold and biceps skinfold), and in two variables at p<0.05 (upper leg skinfold and muscle mass). It can be stated that the water polo players of Montenegro have statistically significantly higher triceps skinfold, biceps skinfold and upper leg skinfold, and statistically significantly lower body height and muscle mass than the water polo players of Croatia.
KEY WORDS: Montenegrin water polo players; Croatian water polo players; Body composition.
