Rules, Regulations, and What It Actually Takes to Play Water Polo
The following rules are in accordance with those posted by the Unites States of America Water Polo Association.
1.
Players
-
Players can rotate in after a goal, during a
time out, or between periods.
2.
Technique
-
Water polo takes a lot
of skill and a good amount of time to master. Like many other sports, its
techniques have been analyzed to see what exactly makes a great water polo
player.
-
In a study in 2004, young male
water polo players were tested in motor and physical ability tests.
These measured swimming and ball-handling skills, as well as ability to jump.
Each athlete’s knowledge of the sport was also tested. The following explains
what each test analyzed.
o Swimming
§ Measured an array of strokes and distances
o Ball handling
§ Dribbling, throwing over distance, and throwing to the goal
o Jumping
§ Athlete had to tread and jump from the water to test how high they
could get out of the water
o Intelligence of the game
§ Decision making, positioning, anticipation and timing
§ Overall ability to understand the game and make appropriate
decisions throughout the game
-
Although the purpose of this
study was not to prove the significance of these variables, the study did find
that to compete at an elite level these skills must be well trained. Physical
ability, however, placed lower in importance. Ability to jump and goal accuracy
were lower in importance. Technique and distance of the throw was very
important in selection.Studies like this show that it is of a possible player’s best interest
to have experience in sports that require similar skill sets (Bareket).
-
For these reasons, any
experience in the sports we are familiar with can help you play water polo.
o For example:
§ Swimming or water athletes will have an advantage in pool
abilities.
§ Baseball/softball athletes will have an advantage in throwing
3.
Fouls
-
There is no limit to
the number of fouls a player can receive unless three of those are considered
to be major. If this is the case, then the player is out for the remained of
the game.
-
Minor Fouls(ordinary)
o
The referee will do a
single whistle blow with their arm pointed to area of foul, or two whistle blows
if the foul is against the team that has possession of the ball
o
The fouled member puts
the ball back in play after the foul, if it was committed outside of 5 meters
their throw can be direct to the goal
o
Common minor
fouls
§
Impeding free movement
of a player not holding the ball
§
Delaying too long
before taking a free throw
§
To waste time (most
often when a team elects not to shoot the ball and instead throws the ball to a
vacant part of the pool and swims away without trying to retain possession)
§
Holding the ball
underwater so that the opponent cannot play it
§
Touching the ball with
two hands (does not apply to goalkeeper inside of the 5-meter line)
§
Walking on or pushing
off the bottom of the pool (does not apply to the goalkeeper inside of the
5-meter line)
§
Tipping the ball out
of the field of play
§
Failing to take a shot
within 30 seconds (letting the shot clock expire)
§
For the goaltender to
go past the center line
-
Major Fouls (personal)
o
These fouls are assigned to the
player who commits it and not just the team in general.
o
Exclusion for 20s
§
Awarded for holding,
sinking, pulling back, kicking, or striking another player
§
Free throw interference
o
Exclusion for 20s and
Substitution
§
This is seen as a more
severe infractions
§
Often given for
violence or disrespect
o
Brutality
§
Must have obvious
intent to injure
§
The player that
commits the foul will be removed from the remainder of that game and the next
game
§
No player may be
substituted in for 4 minutes of game time
§
The offended team is
awarded a penalty shot
o
Penalty fouls
§
A foul committed in
the penalty area (5m line) that prevented a goal. Often a foul from behind.
o
Conduct Fouls
§
Behavior of those not
in the water is inappropriate
§
Red or yellow card is
issued
·
Yellow- for head coach
to warn that the behavior of someone on the bench is inappropriate
·
Red- behavior is bad
enough that the player must leave the bench
§
Cannot have visual, verbal, or
electronic communication with anyone for remainder of the game and the next game
(CITATION)
For more information on
the throwing motions and other mechanics, follow this link!
http://www.waterpoloplanet.com/HTML_Jim_pages/js01_shot_doctor_jim.html