Introduction to Water Polo
Overview
This module will provide a brief introduction to the background and rules of the sport of water polo
Water Polo
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Water Polo is a team sport. It is played in a pool, preferably with a depth of 12 feet deep. It is played in a 4 quarter match between two teams. There are two goals on opposite sides of the pool. The objective is to throw the ball into the opponents goal to score a goal. The team with the most goals at the end of 4 quarters win.
Rules
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-A team is made up of 6 field players and one goalie.
-One of the defining rules of water polo is that field players may only use one hand at all times. Only the goalie may use 2 hands.
-All players tread water at all times. There is no holding the wall or touching the bottom during play.
Pool Setup
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There are 3 important lines in a water polo court: All lines are marked by different color cones on the outside of the pool.
- The first is the two meter line. This line is two meters away from the goal on both ends. Offensive players are not allowed to be inside of this line. It is marked by a red cone.
- The next is the five meter line. This line is five meters away from the goal on both ends. Goalies cannot use two hands pass this line. This is also the line that penalty shots are taken from. It is marked by a yellow cone.
- The final line is mid pool. This is where the ball is dropped to begin the game. It is marked by a green pool.
Fouls
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There are three major types of fouls in water polo:
1). Common foul. This is for a non malicious violation. This results in a free throw for the other team.
2). 20 second exclusion. This is for a malicious foul. It results in the offending player being excluded from the game for 20 seconds or until a change of posession. Goalies can be excluded as well.
3). 5 meter penalty shot. This is for a malicious foul in front of the goal or on the goalie. The result is a penalty shot taken from the 5 meter line. It is one on one with the goalkeeper.
Positions
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There are four different positions in water polo. They are Hole set, Point, Wing drivers, and a goalkeeper.
The typical offensive allignment in water polo is three players lined across the two meter line, and another three players lined around the five meter line.
The hole set is positioned in the center of the pool at the two meter line. They are considered the focal point of the offense. Defensively they defend the point position typically.
The point is the middle of the pool position at the five meter line. They are in charge of running the offense. Defensively they typically defend the hole set position.
The other outside four players are the wing drivers.
Water Polo consists of a motion offense, where all of the positions tend to rotate and switch positions.
Conditioning
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Water Polo requires a vigorous conditioning program. Due to its nature, it requires a three fold workout routine. Swimming conditioning, treading conditioning, and dry land running and lifting. It is considered one of the most enduring and physical sports in the world. To excel, it requires a year long routine.
Water Polo Gameplay
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Water Polo Key Vocabulary
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30 seconds: The amount of time on the typical shot clock
Attacker: (Flat, Wing, Point, Driver) Also called a "utility player," a versatile player who is a secondary two-meter defender but who is also capable of playing the hole and driver positions.
Backhand: a deceptive shot or pass flipped backward
Ball under: one example of an ordinary foul, punished by the opposing team earning a free throw. A player may take or hold the ball underwater when being attacked by an opponent.
Corner throw: a throw used to restart play if a defensive player touched the ball last before it went out over the goal line
Dribble: to swim with the ball
Drive: to swim quickly into the space in front of the goal on offense without the ball
Eggbeater: the alternating leg kick used to tread water and lift players vertically out of the water, also known as a flutter kick.
Key Vocabulary Continued
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Exclusion area: The designated area outside the field of play where excluded players wait to return to the game after their punishment for an exclusion foul.
Lane ropes and buoys: are used to distinguish the field of play and imaginary distances from the goals
Man up: a 20 second period of time for the offensive team where it has one more player than the defensive team after a defensive player commits an exclusion foul.
Red: The period of time immediately prior to the expiration of the shot clock or game clock. Some teams yell "Red" when either of these clocks indicates 10 seconds or less.
Swim off: a race for the ball in the center of the field to start each period
Wet pass: a pass from one player to another that is designated to land in the water