{"id":375637,"date":"2019-06-25T07:00:03","date_gmt":"2019-06-25T14:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=375637"},"modified":"2019-06-25T12:07:39","modified_gmt":"2019-06-25T19:07:39","slug":"water-polo-for-dummies-faq-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/water-polo-for-dummies-faq-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Polo for Dummies: FAQ Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Rachel Andersen, Swimming World College Intern.<\/i><\/p>\n

As the water polo season rises into full swing, players and coaches alike will begin to be bombarded by the same question from friends and family alike: What is water polo?<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you are new to the game or just curious about that strange sport in the pool with the yellow ball flying around, here is a quick rundown of frequently asked questions about water polo. <\/span><\/p>\n

Q: What is water polo?<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"December

Photo Courtesy: Catharyn Hayne<\/p><\/div>\n

A:<\/strong> Because the water polo ball has an uncanny resemblance to a volleyball, many people assume water polo is just volleyball in the water. This is not the case, although that sport does sound like fun. <\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, polo players would describe water polo to a newcomer as soccer or basketball in the water. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is similar to soccer in that water polo is a competitive, full-contact team sport. Like soccer, there are field players (six in water polo\u2019s case) and a goalie who protects the goal. The objective is the same: to score more than the opposing team before the end of the game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Polo resembles basketball in that – while a team is in possession of the ball on the other team\u2019s half of the playing field – there is a 30 (or 35 for women’s games) second shot clock. This timer counts down how long that team can be in possession of the ball. If this shot clock runs out without the team taking a shot, the ball is turned over to the defending team so they can go on the attack. Also like basketball, water polo games are divided up into four equal quarters. However, a water polo quarter can be anywhere from six to eight minutes, depending on the age of the players and whether or not a game is stand-alone (just a singular game) or part of a tournament where players could be playing up to three games a day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: What are each players’ positions in the water?<\/h3>\n
\"Water

Photo Courtesy: Rachel Andersen<\/p><\/div>\n

A:<\/strong> As mentioned before, there are six field players and one goalie. The field players are divided into three distinct roles: wing, hole set (or center), and point. If the six players are arranged into a V-shaped or umbrella configuration<\/a>, five players position themselves on the outside with one player in the middle at the two-meter mark (near the goal).<\/p>\n

The players on the left and right sides of the center who are closest to the goal are called wings. These players can swim in and out of the middle and often change positions with one another while trying to open up space for a shot. The player at the point of the V is called the point and is located furthest away from the goal. They too can switch positions with the wings while trying to shoot or play the ball into the hole set. The hole set, or the center, is the player who sits 2 meters in front of the goal.<\/p>\n

Q: Can you touch the ground to stand up?<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"Johnny

Photo Courtesy: Catharyn Hayne<\/p><\/div>\n

A:<\/strong> Nope! The dimensions of a water polo pool are not fixed and can vary between 20\u00d710 and 30\u00d720 meters with varying depths. Most regulation water polo pools are at least 6 feet deep. However, in the case of a pool having a shallow end, players are still prohibited from touching the bottom of the pool. Doing so will result in the ball being turned over to the opposing team. The only player who can touch the ground if there is a shallow end is the goalie. In this rare case, the goal is raised to eliminate the advantage the goalie has by jumping off the bottom of the pool.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, while playing to keep themselves out of the water enough to pass and shoot the ball, water polo players use a specialized kicking motion known as the egg beater kick. Egg beater is used instead of prolonged flutter kick (what one would use for freestyle) or a vertical breaststroke kick in order to have a stable base that players can use to keep their upper bodies out of the water to be able to pass and shoot accurately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n