WATER POLO STUDY GUIDE

History: The history of water polo began in the 1870s in England. The game originated as a form of rugby football played in rivers and lakes in England and Scotland with a ball constructed of Indian rubber. Since then, its popularity has grown, as shown by the addition of men’s water polo to the Olympics in 1900 and, more recently, women’s water polo in 2000.

Teams: 7 players on a team.

Offensive positions: Hole-set: An offensive player who positions himself directly in front of the opponent’s goal to run the offense. Also called: center forward, hole, hole-man, or 2-meter man. Driver: field players who constantly rotate around the perimeter of the offense to find scoring opportunities. They rotate through the following three positions: point, positioned at the tip of the offense farthest from the opponents goal; flat, positioned about 7 meters from the goal line; and wings, positioned near the 2-meter line. Most driving occurs from the point and flat positions; the wings rotate up to the flat as teammates drive their direction. Defensive positions: Hole-guard: A defensive player who guards the hole-set. The hole-guard’s main objective is to prevent the hole-set from scoring, often by purposely committing ordinary fouls. Also called center back. Goalie: Defensive player who guards the goal by blocking the opponent’s shots. The goalie is the only player who can touch the ball with two hands at once.

Start of the game: Teams line up at opposite ends of the pool, holding on to the wall. The ball is then tossed in at the mid pool line, and both teams swim for the ball.

Advancing the ball: A player can throw or swim with the ball between their arms to advance the ball. When throwing and catching only 1 hand may be used.

Scoring: A goal is scored when the ball passes completely over the goal line into the goal. At the start or re- start of the game the following requirement must be met: the ball has been played by at least two players of either team, excluding the goalie. The exceptions are: after a penalty throw, a free throw thrown by a player into that players own goal, an immediate shot from a goal throw, or an immediate shot from a free throw awarded outside 5 meters. After a goal is scored players must go back to there half of the playing field before play can begin.

Period of play: The game is played in 4 quarters of 8 minutes each. There is a 2-minute interval between first and second, and third and fourth quarters, and a 5-minute interval between the second and third quarter. No game shall end in a tie; hence a 3-minute sudden death will be played. At the beginning of sudden death a coin is toss and the winner choices which end of the pool to start in. In sudden death the first team to score wins. If no one scores, ends of the pool are changed and another 3 minutes is played. This continues until the first team scores. There are 3 time outs, of 2 minutes each, in regulation play. There is only one two-minute time out awarded in sudden death.

THREE TYPES OF FOULS:

Ordinary: Violation of minor rules. Results in a free throw for the fouled team. Examples of fouls: using 2 hands (except for the goalie), holding or pushing off from the side of the pool, using the bottom of the pool, taking the ball under water, using clenched fist, impeding the movement of an opponent, pushing off an opponent, inside the 2 meter line, incorrect taking of penalty throw, delay in taking a throw, goal keeper beyond mid pool line, sending ball out of bounds over the sideline, keeping the ball more than 35 seconds without shooting, delay of game.

Exclusion: More serious violations of the rules. Often called for playing the player, not the ball. Results in a free throw to the opposing team and the exclusion of a player until 20 seconds has passed, a goal is scored, or possession has changed. Examples of fouls: interfering with throws, blocking a shot with 2 hands, intentionally splashing, holding, sinking, kicking, striking, or pulling back on an opponent, misconduct, fighting, illegal leaving or re-entry of game, simultaneous personal fouls by opposing teams.

Penalty: This is a foul that happens inside the 5-meter line, in which a goal was probable if a foul had not been committed. Results in a penalty shot form the 5-meter line.

GOAL THROW is awarded if the ball goes out over the goal line last being touched by any player other than the goalkeeper of the defending team. The player nearest the ball within the 2-meter line may take the goal throw.

CORNER THROW is awarded when the goalie last touches the ball and it goes out over the end line. The throw is taken by the attacking team from inside the 2-meter line on the side nearest where the ball went out. No other attacking players may be in this area during the throw.

FREE THROW is awarded if a member of the defending team deliberately deflects a pass out over the end line or sideline. A free throw is awarded at the point the ball went out, or any point behind this location.

*Note that there is no foul to call until the player drops the ball.

TYPES OF SHOTS

Outside Water Shots: 1. Power shot – The player propels his body out of the water and uses his momentum to shoot. It is powerful, but timing is tough. 2. Bounce or skip shot - The player bounces the ball off the water and into the goal. This type of shot should be taken from a close range. 3. Lob – This is a high arching shot intended to pass over the goalie’s hands. Inside Water Shots: 1. T-shot or bat shot – The player scoops the ball with the non-dominate hand, loading the ball to the dominant hand. 2. Pop shot – The player cups the ball with the dominant hand from underneath the ball and releasing it aiming for the corner of the goal. 3. Spring shot – The player pushes the ball slightly into the water, without submerging it, and then allows a sudden release.

FIELD OF PLAY www.fuzzypower.com

*Note the 4-meter line has been changed to 5- meter.

Goal Lines- Lines that mark the boundary on either side of the pool.

2-meter (red) – Line that not be crossed by offensive players without possession of the ball, unless the ball is inside the line and they are behind the line of the ball. Corner throws are taken from this line, and goal throws are taken between the goal line and the 2-meter line.

5-meter (blue in our pool)- Line from which penalty shots are taken. Also, the goalie becomes a regular player if he crosses this line.

7-meter line- Line outside of which an offensive player may immediately shoot the ball in one continuous motion, no pumping or faking, following an ordinary foul.

Mid-pool (white) – Line that the referee drops the ball at the beginning of the game. This is also where players line up after a goal. The goalie cannot cross the mid-pool line.