Water Polo
I wasn’t familiar with yet. I learned that the game had to be played in a pool that is at least 5 feet, 11 inches deep. This is because it makes it much harder for the players to be able to stand up. The whole idea creates a much more difficult game creating the need to be very physically fit. The goal is supposed to be 9 feet, 10 inches high and at least 3 feet above the water. The goal looks almost exactly the same as a soccer or hockey goal would look like. There are two bars going vertically from the ground and one bar connected to them horizontally.
For the men and women there are different regulations for the sizes of the pool. The men’s pool is 98 feet long and 65 feet wide. The women’s pool is 82 feet long and 56 feet wide. The women’s pool is smaller because it is thought that it makes it easier for women. In my opinion women don’t need the smaller pool because of physical fitness. A professional woman athlete would definitely be able to play in a men’s pool or even just a fit woman athlete. However because women aren’t as strong as men, it makes for a higher scoring, faster, and more exciting game.
Games are divided into four quarters. Usually they range within 5 to 8 minutes in length depending upon what level of play the game is played at. If there is a tie there may be two periods of overtime with a length of 3 minutes each. If the game is still tied after the two periods the game will keep going into overtime until there is a final goal scored making the decision.
There are seven players on each team including the goalie. The teams are differentiated by the color of the caps that are worn on their heads. This is the same idea of having color uniforms in land sports just as basketball, soccer, and rugby. However because of agility and speed purposes, body uniforms are not good in the water and capes seemed like the better solution. The goalie wears a red cap so that they aren’t mistaken for regular players. Usually the cap also has a number 1 on it in either white or blue.
The game starts with the ball being put in the middle of the pool. When the whistle is blown both teams race to the center or ‘sprint’ to the center to gain possession of the ball.
There are different types of ways to progress with the ball. One may either dribble or pass the ball. When a player is trying to dribble they are to swim forward with the ball in front of them, creating waves that move the ball forward. They are never to touch the ball with two hands or the whistle will blow [next page]