This study used a lactate curve test to evaluate the endurance training period in competitive swimming coaching. Endurance training period was defined to two categories, as a general endurance period (6 weeks) and a specific endurance period (6 weeks). This study enrolled 10 well-trained male college swimmers. A lactate curve test was conducted before the general endurance period (Pre-Test), between the general and specific endurance period (Mid-Test), and after a specific endurance period (Post-Test). After the training volume at EN2 increased during the general endurance period, V@OBLA from the lactate curve test was improved significantly (p<0.05) from the Pre-test to the Mid-Test. At the specific endurance period, the ratio of training volume increased at higher intensities such as EN2 and EN3, but the training volume was decreased during the recovery week for swimming competition. It was suggested that the lactate curve indicated a tendency to shift lower from the Mid-Test to the Post-Test.

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The purposes of this study are to extract factors which compose a water polo team's performance and to determine the factors on the improvement of the Japanese men's water polo team. The posted results of 156 water polo games from 2001, 2003 and 2005 World Championships are analyzed. Factor analysis was carried out on various data including: the shots classified by attack patterns, the exclusions, the saves by goal keeper and the defense in 156 games which were released to web site. As a result, there exist seven factors representing dimensions of team performance. They are named as follows:
”F1: defense ability in extra-man situations”
”F2: counter attack shot ability”
”F3: ability of center forward to force defender exclusions”
”F4: ability of center forward to get shots off”
”F5: outside shooting and drive shooting ability”
”F6: ability of field players to force exclusions”
”F7: saving ability of goal keeper”
The analysis of these factors suggested that the improvement of Japan's team performance from 2001 to 2005 was a result of the center forward and goal keeper ability (F3 and F7) and the extra-man offense ability (F3) improving to a high level world standard.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of habitual water exercise on heart rate, oxygen uptake, rectal temperature and thermal sensation scale. Thirty healthy males volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were divided into the habitual water exercise group (WE-group) and the control group (C-group). After resting in a supine position on a land, subjects were moved into water and performed a supine floating for 20 minutes. After the immersion, they were moved to a land and rested for 10 minutes in a sitting position for a recovery. Water temperature was 30 degrees Celsius. Heart rate, oxygen uptake, rectal temperature, blood pressure and thermal sensation scale were measured. Oxygen uptake was significantly low (p< 0.05) in WE-group in comparison of the C-group during a recovery. Thermal sensation scale of WE-group was significantly lower (p< 0.05) than that of the C-group during a supine floating. These results suggest that the habitual water exercise significantly influenced oxygen uptake and thermal sensation scale.

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