The First Olympic team sport; 1908 London Olympics
Water Polo is a team sport that combines cardio-vascular exercise (swimming) and strength making it the ultimate sport. A team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The aim is to score as many goals as possible, like football in the water. The pool should be double end deep ie no shallow end and 25m long.
A match is divided into four periods of 8 minutes. A team may not have possession of the ball for longer than 30 seconds without taking a shout, possession passes to the other team if the 30 seconds lapses. If a team shoots the ball within the 30 seconds, and regains control of the ball the clock is reset to 30 seconds.
The ball is passed by throwing it between players or it can be ‘dribbled’ up the pool by swimming with the ball in front of the player. The idea is to quickly attack your opponents goal. Remember you only have 30 seconds.
The ball which is about the size of a football can only be touched with one hand and must not be submersed under the water.
