Where is today’s Water Polo Heading? An Analysis of the Stages of Development of the Game of Water Polo Kamo ide današnji vaterpolo? Analiza etapnog razvoja vaterpola Mladen Hraste Milivoj Bebić Ratko Rudić Faculty of Natural Sciences Croatian Water Polo Federation Croatian Water Polo Federation UDK 797.25 and Mathematics, University of Split Zagreb Zagreb Pregledni članak / Review e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Rukopis primljen / Paper accepted: 11. 11. 2012. Summary The aims of this review are to: (1) Identify the various phases and their characteristics KEY WORDS throughout the historical development of the water polo game. (2) Explore the impact Water Polo History of changes in rules of the game on the technical-tactical structure of the current water Water Polo Future polo game. (3) Explore the impact of the technical-tactical structure of the water Technical-Tactical Structure polo game which has led to change in the rules of the game historically.(4) Identify Water Polo Rules possible directions for the next change of rules and development of technical-tactical structure of the water polo game. There were five distinct development stages of water polo through its history, and there will probably be another one in future. Each time the various changes in the rules of the game influenced changes to the structure of the technical and tactical game. However, in some periods the reverse happened and the technical and tactical changes in the way the game was coached and played led to changes in the rules of the game. Today’s water polo belongs to the last historical stage which is characterized by a high rhythm and tempo of the game, but at the same time today’s water polo is a sport with a lot of physical contact fouls and with 60% waste of time during the annoying phase of transition. By applying the suggested “new rules” the number of ordinary fouls and the time loss in the transition phase would be significantly reduced. With these new rules, the water polo games should develop a new dimension of attractiveness and creativity. Sažetak U ovom su preglednom članku utvrđene povijesne etape i njihova obilježja kroz povijesni KLJUČNE RIJEČI razvoj vaterpolske igre. U radu je istražen utjecaj promjena pravila igre na tehničko- povijest vaterpola taktičku strukturu vaterpolske igre kao i utjecaj tehničko-taktičke strukture vaterpolske budućnost vaterpola igre na promjene pravila igre. U radu su utvrđeni mogući pravci narednih promjena pravila tehničko-taktička struktura i razvoja tehničko-taktičke strukture vaterpolske igre. Kroz povijesni razvoj vaterpolske igre pravila utvrđena su obilježja pet razvojnih etapa te je predviđena jedna buduća, hipotetska etapa. Etape su se diferencirale prema obilježjima vremena i uvjeta u kojima je vaterpolo egzistirao kao i prema značajnim razlikama u pravilima i tehničko-taktičkoj strukturi igre. Različite promjene pravila u povijesti igre utjecale su na mijenjanje tehničko-taktičke strukture igre. Međutim, u nekim periodima usavršavanje i promjene tehničko-taktičke strukture igre su utjecale na mijenjanje pravila igre. Današnji vaterpolo pripada zadnjoj povijesnoj etapi koja je obilježena igrom visokog ritma i tempa, međutim u istom trenutku prevladava statičan vaterpolo u pozicijskim fazama igre s puno dosuđenih prekršaja, kontakata i duel igre “na granici incidenta”, s malo uplivavanja i malo taktičke kombinatorike u fazi napada. U današnjem vaterpolu udio tranzicijske faze po utakmici je 60%. U projekciji igre primjenom „novih“ pravila značajno bi se smanjio broj običnih prekršaja kao i smanjio udjel tranzicijskih faza u ukupnoj strukturi igre. Na taj način bi se pospješila struktura igre s tendencijom postizanja ravnoteže između napada i obrane u dva bazična stanja igre, pozicije i tranzicije. Posljedica novih pravila trebala bi biti odstranjivanje grube igre, „otvaranje“ igrališta, ubrzavanje igre, što će omogućiti veći stupanj izražavanja tehničko- taktičkog znanja i vještina tijekom igre. U „novim uvjetima“, vaterpolske utakmice bi trebale doživjeti nove dimenzije atraktivnosti i kreativnosti. INTRODUCTION / Uvod Like other sports, water polo has development of water polo has been in the world. The development of water developed due to historical development especially influenced by the application polo from its first days, until today, caused by changes to the rules and of new and scientifically-based training was conditioned by technical-tactical improvement of the material, technical processes. All these factors have innovations and changes of the rules. and organizational conditions of contributed so that today’s water polo Water polo as a team sport has developed the training and competition. The is moderately popular and widespread with continuous changing of those rules, “Naše more” 60(1-2)/2013. - Supplement, pp. 17-22 17 which often hampered the dynamics and the impact of the technical-tactical dimensions of goals, the players were not a speed of the game. Over time, means structure of the water polo game which allowed bouncing from the bottom and and methods of technical-tactical and has led to change in the rules of the a pass or shot with two hands was not conditional training have been perfected game historically;(4) Identify possible allowed. Although there were uniform and thus the intensity of the play and directions for the next change of rules rules, clubs from Scotland and England technical-tactical elements has been and development of technical-tactical played by different rules. Water polo continuously improved too. If one looks structure of the water polo game. spread to America. The game was rife back at how the game was played in the with allowable activities such as diving past, it is evident that water polo has with the ball, pulling back, sinking and developed especially in term of speed, STAGE DEVELOPMENT OF THE holding (Lord, 2008, p 49). The game strength and speed endurance. Modern WATER POLO GAMES / Etapni was often followed with a brutality that water polo is characterized by rapid razvoj vaterpola sometimes was the main attraction of the circulation of the play, with rapid counter The developmental stages of water polo game. The “International Board” in 1892 attacks, powerful and precise shots to the are differentiated according to the time established uniform rules, and entered goal, and tight duel play which requires and characteristics of conditions in which nothing new under the existing rules. that player abilities, skills, knowledge water polo existed at that time and to At this stage water polo was expanding and habits are extremely high. The rules the significant changes in the rules and beyond the borders of Great Britain and and the rule changes are proposed to structure of the technical-tactical game the United States. Germany, Austria, the International Swimming Federation that were introduced from time to time. France, Belgium, Hungary and Italy (FINA) by the Technical Water Polo The first stage of the development of adopted the water polo game before Committee. The European Swimming the water polo is from 1869 to 1907. This the end of the 19th Century. At this time Federation (LEN), regional, national, stage can be marked as the search for water polo matches consisted of two 10 university and school leagues have identity and unifying the rules of water minutes halves. accepted FINA water polo rules, though polo games. During this period, the first The second stage of the sport’s sometimes with minor modifications. Any water polo game was characterized by development covers the period from differences in the rules are present only in uncontrolled and wild play with a lot of 1908 to 1949. This stage can be marked the duration of the game, the time of ball diving and sinking, without particular as a period of restructuring and possession and in the space arrangement technique and rules. The systems and internationalization of the game. In 1908 of the playgrounds. However, there are rules at the start contributed to the The International Swimming Federation still big difficulties in interpreting the domination of defense over attack. FINA (Federation Internationale de rules of the game, which often leads to Carrying the ball under the water was Natation) was established. That year disputes and incorrect decisions of the common at matches (Juba, 2008, p 26). the name of “football in the water” was judges in some stages of water polo Water polo, as a new sport in the years of officially declared invalid and “water development. its initiation sought a true name, so it was polo” was declared as the new official An analysis of the water polo game initially called football or rugby in water name. Initial rules, with amendments from its beginning in 1869 to today is a because this is what it most resembled which referred to a penalty throw and necessary prerequisite to understand the in early matches (Juba, 2008, p 10). The the ejection of players who committed a evolution of the water polo game. There first water polo game was played without foul were in effect until 1949. Water polo needs to be an analysis of each stage of goals, with three players in each team. The technique was improved in the area of development from the sport’s formation, way to score a goal was with two hands individual skills. through its changes and evolution which to put the ball on a platform or a boat In 1928, (Lord, 2008, p 51) Hungarian have happened throughout history until that was at the end of the court. Attempts water polo coach Bela Komjadi invented today. It is necessary to have a constant at such games were unsuccessful and the “air pass”, or “dry pass”, a technique insight into the informal relationship unattractive. Often the matches were in which a player directly passes the between the sequences of the game’s included in sea ceremony programs ball through the air to another player, rules and techniques, and also between with rowing and swimming.