Water polo

Water polo is a sport played in water with a ball. It has similarities to basketball and soccer, although players are in the pool. Players try to get the ball into the goal more times than the opposing team, without using goggles.

Outline

Water polo is a team game. Two teams play a match. Each match has four periods called quarters. The length of each period is usually between 5 and 8 minutes. Because the amount of time spent on fouls or out throws is not counted in the quarter time, an average quarter really lasts around 12 minutes.

Each team has six field players and one goalkeeper. Water polo players need to be good at swimming and ball handing. They need good reflexes and awareness.

Players must keep floating in a game. Players may not stand on the bottom of the pool.

Water polo is played in a pool : depth is above 2 m, a vertical line is 30 m and width is 20 m.

Positions

Goal Keeper (2)
Floater (1)
Floater Back (1)
Driver (4)

Equipments

To play water polo, you need swimwear, caps, mouth guards, a ball and a goal. The caps' design is unique. They are designed to protect head and ears.

Fouls

Putting an offensive player who doesn't have a ball under the water; a defensive player who does this should go outside of the field for 20 seconds
Sinking a ball
Grasping a carrier's swimwear
Touching a ball with both hands
Putting both hands up to defend from shoot

History

The rules of water polo were originally developed in the mid-nineteenth century in Great Britain by William Wilson. The game originated as a form of rugby football played in rivers and lakes in England and Scotland with a ball constructed of Indian rubber, probably from the 1850s onwards.

Famous players

Water Polo Media

William Wilson, Scottish aquatics pioneer and originator of the first rules of water polo
A classic 4–2 man-up situation. The attacking white team has 4 players positioned on 2 metres, and 2 players positioned on 4 metres. The 5 outfield defending blue players try to block shots and prevent a goal being scored for the 20 seconds of man-down play. In the top left corner, the shot clock can be seen, showing 28 seconds remaining in the white attack.
Water polo defense: A defender may only hold, block or pull an opponent who is touching or holding the ball.

Other websites

FINA Official Website
Waterpolo-world
Water Polo Planet Archived 2007-07-04 at the Wayback Machine
Coaching Information on Water Polo Archived 2007-06-21 at the Wayback Machine