Water Polo the Game
Water Polo is a team water sport comprising of usually 13 players with six players plus one goal keeper on the court. Players wear numbered caps for easy identification. The game itself can be described as a mixture between swimming, basketball, rugby and soccer. Players must stay afloat throughout by treading water or swimming throughout the entire match and must not touch the sides or the bottom of the pool. The game consists of four eight minute quarters. Players move the ball by passing through the air or across the water surface to a teammate whilst swimming or treading water. Players carry the ball while swimming up the court (also known as dribbling similar to basketball). Each team has 30 seconds to shoot the ball at the goal which starts when the team gains possession. If no shot is taken, a free throw is awarded to the opposing team and their 30 seconds begins. Referees indicate fouls by blowing their whistle and pointing in the direction of the team that has received the foul.
Fouls range from a free throw to an exclusion (which is when a player is taken off court for 20 seconds). In the event of a draw, two extra periods of three-minutes are played. If no result is achieved, the first team to score, thereafter, wins.
Although professional and serious competition is often very aggressive and very physical with top players amongst the world’s best conditioned athletes, the game offers plenty of fun for family members of both genders and is suitable for all ages.