The first makeshift water polo contests were played in Britain in the 1860s - the sport.
may thank its inception to the monotony that spectators found in the competitive swim.
races of the times. Some horse jockeys with a want for amusement started "Water.
Derby", using barrels to replace the horses in the water. A new version called "Water.
Football", with three players aside, enjoyed brief success in 1876.
What could be considered the first regular game of Water Polo was played in.
1876. The game did not catch on, however. The same year, a more elaborate set of rules.
were written which were refined by English and Scottish teams. In 1885, the English.
National Swimming Association officially recognized water polo as a separate sport.
thereafter requiring games to be played in accordance with one set of rules. Interest in the.
emerging sport then spread around the world. .
The dictionary defines water polo as "an aquatic game in which two teams of.
seven swimmers each attempt to push or shoot an inflated ball across each other's goal.
line". .
Similar in concept to soccer or hockey, water polo is a contest of skill and.
strategy between driver two team' of players. The object of the game is to score more.
goals than the opposition.
Water polo is generally played in deep water, over four time periods called.
quarters. It takes about sixty minutes to play an entire game, which is carefully controlled.
by qualified officials. The official in charge makes calls with a whistle.
There is a maximum of 13 players on each team, with seven (one goalie and six.
players) in the water at any one time. Players are not allowed to touch the bottom or the.
sides of the pool. All players must play the ball with one hand, with the exception of the.
goaltenders. The water polo equivalent of a hockey face-off is a swim-off, when.
opposing players race for a free ballThe first makeshift water polo contests were played in Britain in the 1860s - the sport.