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WATER POLO FUN FACTS o Water polo was the first team sport to

become part of the Olympic Games

o The Hungarian men’s team is the most

successful Olympic water polo team, having

won 15 medals (the US has won 9).

o The University of California has been the

most successful college Water Polo program

by winning 13 national championships.

o Water Polo was originally

called ‘Water Rugby’ and it used to be

played in the rivers and lakes in England.

o Prince William of the United Kingdom was

the captain of the St Andrew’s University

Water Polo Team.

o Each player swims around 1.5 miles during

each game.

o Water Polo shots have been clocked at up to

59mph (Coach Richards held the CA state

record at 49mph).

o Navy Seals heavily recruit water polo

athletes because of their discipline and

ability to think under pressure.

Welcome to the wild world of Water Polo! Water polo like a cross of a swim meet with a little bit of a soccer,

basketball, and hockey mixed in it. Six field players and one goalkeeper are on each team. At each game, you’ll

see lots of fast action, swimming, treading water (called the ‘eggbeater’), physical contact between players, a

bright yellow ball, coaches directing the action, referees blowing their whistles very often, and teams playing

offense and defense. It doesn’t matter if you are watching your 1st or your 101st water polo game, you are going to have questions during the game.

GAME STRUCTURE

• Four periods of play with 2 two timeouts during

a game (and one extra timeout if the game goes

into overtime).

• A :30 second shot clock indicates how much time remains to shoot.

THE FIELD OF PLAY

• 2-meter lines (red cones). No offensive player is allowed to swim inside of the 2-meter line unless he/she has possession of the ball.

• 5-meter lines (yellow cones). If an offensive

player is fouled outside of the 5-meter line, the

player may pick up the ball and take an

immediate uncontested shot.

• Center line (white cones) used for opening

sprints and after each goal to re-start play at

mid-pool; the goalkeepers are not permitted to

go across the center line.

THE PLAYERS

• Goalie: Red capped leader on defense who acts as a second coach in the water. • The Hole Set. Sets up at the 2 meter area in front of the goal. This player’s day will be

filled with wrestling matches trying to gain position to take a high percentage shot. • D-Hole: Guards the hole set and prevents the hole-set from scoring, often by purposely

committing ordinary fouls. • Point. Player at the center of the pool who directs the offense and who plays D-hole. • Wings/Shooters. Play near the 2-meter area, kitty-corner from the goal. • Flats/drivers. Play in the 5-meter area and drive after a common foul occurs.

LET THE GAME BEGIN!

o One whistle. A common foul (and there’s

no limit on how many a player can get).

The most common reason is for impeding

the free movement of a player who is not

holding the ball. This results in a free pass.

o Two whistles. Turnover. This typically

occurs when a player touches the ball with

two hands or pushes off the bottom of the

pool (does not apply to the goalkeeper), or

if the team failed to take a shot within 30

seconds.

o Many whistles. Something BIG happened (multiple whistles usually a defensive player has been excluded for 20 seconds). When a defensive player who holds, sinks, or pulls back an offensive player, that player is excluded for 20 seconds. A penalty shot (5 meter shot) may be awarded is any foul occurred that prevented a probable goal. Once a player has committed three exclusions, that player must leave the game and may not return.

o Ejections (very uncommon) When the behavior of participants is inappropriate, the referees removals the player or coach from the game.

At the beginning of each quarter,

players sprint towards mid-pool. Whoever controls the ball is the first to be on offense.

Players advance by swimming and passing the ball. With the exception of the goalie, players can only touch the ball with one hand at a time.

The perimeter players surround the hole-set, who is positioned directly in front of the goal. Perimeter players try to take a shot or attempt a wet pass into the hole-set (a strategy called “setting the hole.”) You’ll see the D-hole foul the hole-set to force a free-pass, rather than allowing him to shoot the ball.

Immediately following a foul, there are 3 seconds of dead-time; during this time, perimeter players drive towards the goal to either become available to take a shot or ’draw a foul,’ which results in the defender’s exclusion from the game for 20 seconds.

During the 20 second exclusion, the offensive team is in a power play that creates a high probability for scoring.

• Anticipate: Swimming back on defense or offense when the other team is on the verge of losing possession.

• Backhand: A pass or shot that is thrown backwards, most commonly seen from the hole-set. • Ball under: An ordinary foul for taking the ball underwater while in contact with an opposing

player. • Ball side: The area between the ball carrier and the goal. • Be a Threat: When a player has the ball, s/he should play with facing the field of play and with

the ball raised out of the water in a threatening position. • Brutality: An exclusion foul for extremely rough play such as striking another player. • 2 Meter (Corner) throw: A free throw by the offensive team when the ball goes out of bounds

over the goal line and was last touched by the defense. • Dribble/Drive: To swim with the head above water to become open for a pass or shot. • Drop/Slough: When a defender swims toward the hole to help guard passes into the hole-set. • Dry pass: A pass in which the ball never touches the water. • Eggbeater: A kicking motion, using alternating circular motions of the leg, for treading water. • Foul and Drop: It is wise to foul a player who is in a position to score inside the 5 meter area

(turning that shooter into a passer) and then dropping back to play defense. • Free Throw: A free pass granted immediately following a foul. • Hips Up: Playing on a horizontal angle to maximize reaction time. • “Hole-Set”: The hole man has good position and an entry pass should be made • Impede: To prevent the movement of a player not holding the ball, resulting in a foul (or

exclusion, if the impediment occurred immediately following a common foul during the 3 seconds of dead time).

• Pump-fake: Pumping and moving the ball in an effort to move the goalie out of position. • Press: A defensive players puts pressure, without fouling, on the player with the ball and

attempts to block the passing lanes. • See the Pool: Keeping one’s head on a swivel so as to see the entire field of play during a game. • 6 on 5 (“We’re up!”): A defensive player has been excluded for 20 seconds. Good teams will

pump-fake and pass the ball around the perimeter for at least 15 seconds to wear down the defense before taking a shot.

• 5 on 6: (“We’re down!”): A teammate has been excluded for 20 seconds. Good players will drop into the 2 meter area, put an arm up, and set up a 3:2 defense.

• Triple Threat: Holding the ball to immediately shoot, drive, or pass • “Walk it In”: To hold the ball up and quickly eggbeater towards the goal. • Weak: A player is open on the other side of the pool. • Wet pass: A pass in which the ball lands in the water. A wet pass is used to set the ball to the

hole-set.

WATER POLO TERMINOLOGY

Q: I saw a clear foul and the ref did not call it. Why?

A: The referee will not call an ordinary foul if there still

is a possibility for the offensive player to gain

advantage. The referees acts as the 7th player on

offense and will always give the advantage to the player

on offense. Once a defensive player has taken

advantage, position, or possession through holding,

sinking, or pulling back, a foul will be called.