Water polo is a sport in which two teams in a pool try to score by throwing or pushing a hollow rubber ball into the opponent’s goal. A player who does so scores one point for his or her team. Water polo is a rough sport because the players kick and wrestle or sometimes hold an opponent’s head underwater, though such actions are against the rules.
Men’s water polo is played in an area not less than 20 meters (66 feet) or more than 30 meters (98 feet) long. The width must be from 10 to 20 meters (33 to 66 feet). Women’s water polo is played in an area no larger than 25 by 20 meters (82 by 66 feet). The goals are 3 meters (10 feet) wide and usually 0.9 meter (3 feet) above the water.
Both men’s and women’s water polo games are 32 minutes long and are split into 8-minute quarters. A water polo team consists of a goalie and six field players. The goalie can handle the ball with both hands within 5 meters (16 feet) of the goal. However, the field players may use only one hand at a time. Players move the ball by passing it or swimming with it. Each time a team gets the ball, it has 30 seconds to try to score. If the team does not shoot the ball at the goal within that time, the other team gets the ball. If a player commits a minor foul, the other team is allowed to put the ball in play without opposition, but it must do so without undue delay, generally within 3 or 4 seconds. When a major foul is committed, the player must leave the game—without a substitute—for 20 seconds or until a goal is scored. An even more serious foul results in a penalty throw, in which an opposing player shoots at the goal from the 4-meter line with only the goalie defending it.
Water polo originated in England during the 1870’s. Water polo was the first team sport added to the Olympic Games in 1900.
