How many timeouts are there in a water polo game?
FINA Water polo rules allow for two timeouts for each team in a match. They can be taken in the same period. NCAA and NFHS rules allow for three timeouts during regulation play. If the game goes into overtime, each team is allowed one timeout for the duration of overtime.
How long is a quarter in water polo?
Under FINA rules, a water polo match is divided into four quarters of eight minutes. However, because the clock is stopped when the ball is not in play, the average quarter lasts around 12 minutes.
Does water polo have a sudden death?
Differing from FINA rules, for which there are no shootouts, teams play two three-minute overtime periods in American college varsity water polo, and if still tied play three-minute sudden death periods until a team scores a goal and wins the game.
What is the game of water polo all about?
Water polo. A game of water polo consists of the players swimming to move about the pool, treading water (often using the eggbeater kick technique), passing the ball and shooting at goal. Teamwork, tactical thinking and game awareness are also highly important aspects in a game of water polo.
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Is water polo 3 periods?
Players tread water the entire game and cannot touch the bottom or sides of the pool, and except for the goalkeeper, may handle the ball with only one hand. The game is played in four quarters, each quarter being seven minutes in length with two-minute intervals between quarters (28 minutes of stopped time).
How long is the water polo game?
The FINA rules can be found here. The duration of a game of water polo is four eight minute periods.
Are there 4 quarters in water polo?
Under FINA rules, a water polo match is divided into four quarters of eight minutes. However, because the clock is stopped when the ball is not in play, the average quarter lasts around 12 minutes. Each team is only allowed to hold onto the ball for a maximum of 30 seconds before shooting for the goal.
How many fouls can you get in water polo?
The referees whistle two different kinds of fouls: minor (ordinary) fouls and major (personal) fouls. There is no limit to the number of minor fouls a player may commit. In contrast, once a player has committed three major fouls, that player must leave the game and may not return.
Is water polo the hardest sport?
Water polo was named the most physically strenuous Olympic sport. Water polo often tops lists of most difficult sports.
Do water polo players wear cups?
Like swimmers, some water polo players also choose to wear a cap under their fabric hats to protect their hair. Water polo caps come in three colours, red for a goalie, and blue or white for each team.
Why do water polo players wear Speedos?
WATER POLO SPEEDOS If you're still curious about water polo and want to know why they wear Speedos, or multiple Speedos, there is a reason. Water polo is an aggressive sport and players are constantly pulling and grabbing at one another. So if you wear a Speedo, it gives your opponents less material to grab.
Why do water polo refs wear white?
To help distinguish themselves from other people (players, coaches, photographers, spectators, etc.) standing on the edge of the pool, water polo referees dress in white from head to toe. Ideally, each water polo game has two referees, one for each side of the pool.
Why do water polo players wear caps?
Caps. The water polo cap comes with protective coverings that go over a player's ear and protects them from injury in the event that there is contact to the head. The caps also have a player's number printed on them.
What is illegal in water polo?
Touching the ball with two hands (with the exception of the goalkeeper). Taking the ball under water when tackled. Impeding an opponent who is not holding the ball. Pushing off an opponent. Failing to shoot or advance the ball within 30 seconds.
How long can you hold the ball in water polo?
30 secondsEach team is only allowed to hold onto the ball for a maximum of 30 seconds before shooting for the goal.
Can you punch the ball in water polo?
Goalkeepers are the only players that are allowed to catch the ball with both hands. They can also punch the ball with their fist. Dribbling in water polo involves a player moving the ball across the pool by propelling the ball in front of him, while swimming forward.
Is there a half time in water polo?
An Olympic water polo game is broken down into four quarters, with each quarter being eight minutes long. However, most quarters will last around 12 minutes since the game clock stops whenever the ball goes out of the pool. In between each quarter, there is a two-minute break.
How long are the quarters in water polo?
eight minutesEach of the four periods is eight minutes long but because the clock is stopped when the ball is not 'in play', in real life the average quarter lasts around 12 minutes. Each team is only allowed to hold onto the ball for a maximum of 30 seconds before shooting for the goal.
Can you swim underwater in water polo?
Water polo is a contact sport, which results in a physical style of play. Here are some basic rules to consider when playing the sport: Players are not allowed to touch the bottom or sides of the pool. The ball may not go underwater.
How far do you swim in a water polo game?
Water polo is a team water sport requiring an ability to swim. Field players must swim end to end of a 30-meter pool non-stop many times during a game without touching the sides or bottom of the pool.
How long is a water polo match?
Under FINA rules, a water polo match is divided into four quarters of eight minutes.
What are the rules of water polo?
Introduction to water polo rules. Put simply, there are goals at each end of the pool and the winner of the game is the team that scores the most goals by getting the ball between the posts. Players are not allowed to touch the bottom of the pool and have to tread water the whole time. Water polo players use a movement called eggbeater which is ...
How many players are on a water polo team?
In senior water polo and most junior games, water polo teams consist of 13 players. Each team is allowed to have seven in the water at one time – six outfield players and one goalkeeper.
How do water polo players move the ball?
Players can move the ball by throwing it to a teammate or swimming while pushing the ball in front of them . They can only hold the ball with one hand, other than the goalkeeper who can use both hands.
Why do water polo players need stamina?
Water polo players need remarkable stamina because of the considerable amount of holding and pushing that occurs during the game.
When was the first swimming game invented?
It’s also a sport we can truly call our own, with the first set of rules for the game developed in 1885 by the Swimming Association of Great Britain, a precursor to the ASA.
Is water polo a royal sport?
The first thing to know is that while a few sports claim to be the ‘sport of kings’, water polo officially has the royal seal of approval. The Duke of Cambridge himself is a fan of the sport and played at university and at national level for Scotland.
What are the rules of water polo?
The rules of water polo are the rules and regulations which cover the play, procedure, equipment and officiating of water polo. These rules are similar throughout the world, although slight variations do occur regionally and depending on the governing body. Governing bodies of water polo include FINA, the international governing organization for the rules; the NCAA, which govern the rules for collegiate matches in the United States; the NFHS, which govern the rules in high schools in the USA; and the IOC, which govern the rules at Olympic events .
How many goal posts are there in water polo?
The sport of Water Polo, as its name suggests, is played in a pool of water that resembles a soccer or hockey court, having 2 goal posts at each end of the pool.
How deep is a water polo pool?
Dimensions of the water polo pool are not fixed and can vary between 20×10 and 30×20 meters (FINA approved matches require a 30x20 meter pool for men, and 25x20 meter pool for women), therefore short course pools can be used. Minimum water depth must be least 1.8 meters (6 feet), but this is often not the case due to nature of the pool (as many have shallow ends). The goals are 3 m (9 ft 10.11 in) wide & 0.9 m (2 ft 11.43 in) high.
What color cap does a water polo team wear?
Teams may choose to wear different cap colors (e.g. their team colors). For instance, Australia's women's water polo team wears green caps.
Why do water polo players wear caps?
The water polo cap is used to protect the players' heads and ears, and the numbers on them (1-13 ) make them identifiable from afar, especially by the referee (s). Both goalies wear red or red striped caps.
How many players are allowed in a senior pool?
Senior games consist of seven players from each team (six field players and a goalkeeper) that are allowed in the playing area of the pool during gameplay. FINA reduced the number of players in U20 (and younger) competitions that they sanction to six (5 field players and a goalkeeper) in 2014. If a player commits an exclusion (major) foul, then that team will play with one player fewer until the player is allowed to re-enter (typically 20 seconds). If a player commits a particularly violent act, such as striking a player, then the referee may signal a brutality foul, in which case that team is required to play with one fewer player in the water for 4 minutes, besides the culprit being ejected [ i.e. they must leave the pool area and not return]. Plus, the culprit may not be allowed to compete in a given number of future games depending on the governing body.
What are the governing bodies of water polo?
Governing bodies of water polo include FINA, the international governing organization for the rules; the NCAA, which govern the rules for collegiate matches in the United States; the NFHS, which govern the rules in high schools in the USA; and the IOC, which govern the rules at Olympic events . William Wilson, Scottish aquatics pioneer ...
How long is a water polo game?
How long is a game? Each water polo game is made up of four, 7-minute, quarters. Total squad size is 13 players. If there are less than 6 swimmers in the water, a team does not have to have a goalie. Substitutions may be made at any time during a game (like hockey) but the players must make the exchange in a specific area behind their own goal ...
What is the FINA water polo?
At the international and Olympic level, water polo is governed by FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation). They also govern swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, and masters swimming. The detailed water polo rules for all aspects of the competition are available through the FINA website.
How does the pool game work?
The Game. The game starts with all players lined up at their own goal line. The referee blows a whistle and throws the ball into play at mid-pool. The swimmers sprint to their positions, with some players from each team swimming to get possession of the ball. Players try to throw the ball into a goal.
Why do water polo players wear swim caps?
Water polo players wear colored swim caps (that tie under their chin) to identify themselves to their teammates and to identify the goalie. The caps have special plastic cups over ear holes to protect the player's ears.
What do the Olympic swimmers wear?
The players wear swimsuits —sometimes two suits. At the Olympic level, the suits are specifically designed for water polo, with a firm fit (extra fabric could be grabbed by an opposing player) and are somewhat slick to make it harder for an opposing player to hold the swimmer.
How many overtime periods are there in soccer?
If there is a tie at the end of regulation time: There are two overtime periods, each three minutes long, with the team scoring the most goals declared the winner. If there is still a tie after overtime, then a shoot-out is held. Five players from each team shoot for the goal.
Overview
History
The history of water polo as a team sport began as a demonstration of strength and swimming skill in mid-19th century England and Scotland, where water sports and racing exhibitions were a feature of county fairs and festivals. Men's water polo was among the first team sports introduced at the modern Olympic games in 1900. The present-day game involves teams of seven players (plus up to six substitutes), with a water polo ball similar in size to a soccer ball but constructed …
Geography
Water polo is now popular in many countries around the world, notably Europe (particularly in Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Spain), Australia, Brazil, Canada and the United States.
Some countries have two principal competitions: a more prestigious league which is typically a double round-robin tournament restricted to the elite clubs, and a cup which is a single-eliminatio…
Rules
The rules of water polo cover the play, procedures, equipment and officiating of water polo. These rules are similar throughout the world, although slight variations to the rules do occur regionally and depending on the governing body. Governing bodies of water polo include FINA, the international governing organization for the rules; the NCAA rules, which govern the rules for collegiate matches in the United States; the NFHS rules which govern the rules in high schools in …
Positions
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 usually consist of a center forward, a center back, the two wing players and the two drivers. Players who are skilled in all positions of offense or defense are called utility players. Uti…
Common techniques and practices
Player positioning
The most basic positional set up is known as a "3–3", so called because there are two lines in front of the opponent's goal. Another set up, used more by professional teams, is known as an "arc", "umbrella", or "mushroom"; perimeter players form the shape of an arc around the goal, with the hole set as the handle or stalk. Yet another option for offensive set is called a 4–2 or double …
Injuries
Water polo is a contact sport, with little protective gear besides swim suits and caps with ear protectors, and thus injuries are common. Among the most frequent serious injuries are those affecting the head and shoulders. Those induced to the head are usually caused by elbows or the ball itself, while shoulder injuries are a result of grabbing and pushing while throwing the ball or simply of repetitive overexertion of joints and muscles when taking hard shots. The hands and fi…
Variations
Inner tube water polo is a style of water polo in which players, excluding the goalkeeper, are required to float in inner tubes. By floating in an inner tube players expend less energy than traditional water polo players, not having to tread water. This allows casual players to enjoy water polo without undertaking the intense conditioning required for conventional water polo.
Surf polo, another variation of water polo, is played on surfboards. First played on the beaches of