Beach Water Polo

Water Polo

One of the most energetic, fast paced and exciting sports played today is water polo. Water Polo is defined as a goal game similar to soccer that is played in water by teams of swimmers using a ball slightly resembling a soccer ball. There are six field players and one goalkeeper on each team. The objective is to score a ball into a net goal by swimming, passing, and shooting. Players must tread water through the entire game and may not touch the bottom of the pool. 토토사이트

Rules of Water Polo

The playing area is 30m x 20m with a minimum depth of 2m.

Teams consist of 13 players in total, with 7 players in play at any time, 6 field players and 1 goalie.

Players are only permitted to use one hand to hold the ball apart from the goalie who can use two hands when within 5m of their own goal.

Water Polo is played in four quarters with each quarter lasting for eight minutes with a two minute break between quarters.

Players advance the ball upfield by swimming with the ball in front of them or by passing to teammates.

Players are not allowed to touch the bottom of the pool and players tread water or swim for the entire match.

Teams can only retain the ball for up to 30 seconds without shooting at goal.

A goal is equal to one point and is scored when the ball is pushed or thrown completely between the goalposts and under the crossbar.

Fouls are made up of ordinary fouls and major fouls. Players are only allowed three major fouls, any more and they are excluded out of the game.

If at the end of the game the score remains tied, a shootout occurs to decide the winner.

Water Polo History

While the earliest origins of water polo are hard to know, it began as a sport during 19th century in England. In 1870, the London Swimming Club created rules for the sport and hosted the first official game in London. In the beginning stages of water polo, the game’s emphasis was more on strength and aggression in the water rather than speed or skill in the water. Rules were developed in Scotland in 1880 in order to provide less emphasis on brutness where a bigger ball and nets were introduced and players could not tackle players who did not have the ball. The rules developed in Scotland were then adopted in Great Britain, Hungary, Belgium. Germany, Austria, and France, and in 1911, FINA adopted the Scottish rules for international water polo events. The first time water polo was played in the United States was in 1888 by an English swimming instructor. The “American style” of the sport was very similar to rugby or American football in water and became popular in the US during the 1890s, mainly for the level of aggression the sport was played at. The water polo clubs throughout the United States refused to adopt the Scottish rules and were not allowed to compete internationally until they finally agreed to the more civilized version of water polo in 1914.

The game has come to resemble soccer in the sense that a defender can only make contact with the player holding the ball and there is more of an emphasis on speed and passing on top of the water.