By Harrison Pawelec

Contents Water polo The history of the sport Rules Basic skills Positions Thank you for watching

Water Polo Water polo, or Water ball, is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores the most goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water (using a sort of kicking motion known as "eggbeater kick"), players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing the ball into a net defended by a goalkeeper. 'Man-up' (or 'power play') situations occur frequently. Water polo, therefore, has strong similarities to the land-based game of team handball.

The history of water polo as a team sport began as a demonstration of strength and swimming skill in late 19th century England and Scotland. Men's water polo was among the first team sports introduced at the modern Olympic games in Water polo is now popular in many countries around the world. Water polo was created by William Wilson.

Rules Seven players from each team (six field players and a goalkeeper) are allowed in the playing area of the pool during game play with up to four substitutes. Visiting team field players wear numbered and usually White caps, and home team field players wear usually Blue caps (though any other contrasting colours are now allowed); both goalkeepers wear red caps, numbered "1". Players may be substituted in and out after goals, during timeouts, at the beginning of each quarter, after ordinary fouls and after injuries. During game play, players enter and exit in the corner of the pool, or in front of their goal; when play is stopped, they may enter or exit anywhere. The game is divided into four periods; the length depends on the level of play

Basic skills Water Polo is a team water activity requiring swimming skills including treading water or wrestling before turning back for the opposing team's possession. The front crawl stroke used in water polo differs from the usual swimming style in which water polo players swim with the head out of water at all times to observe the play. The arm stroke used is also a lot shorter and quicker and is used primarily to protect the ball. Backstroke is used by defending players to look for advancing opponents and by the goalie to track the ball after passing. Water polo backstroke differs from swimming backstroke; the player sits up a bit in the water, using eggbeater leg like motions with short arm strokes to the side instead of long arm strokes. This allows the player to see the play and quickly switch positions. It also allows the player to quickly catch a pass.

There are seven players in the water from each team at one time. There are six players that play out and one goalkeeper. Unlike most common team sports, there is little positional play; field players will often fill several positions throughout the game as situations demand. These positions consist of the centre (or hole set), the point (who also usually plays centre back or hole defender), the two wings and the two flats. Players who are skilled in all of these positions on offensive or defensive are called utility players. Utility players tend to come off of the bench, though this is not absolute. Certain body types are more suited for particular positions, and left-handed players are especially coveted on the right- hand side of the field, allowing teams to launch 2-sided attacks.