What is water polo? This is a team sporting event held in the aquatic environment. It can be a natural body of water, or maybe a pool.
This sport dates back to the nineteenth century. Then the Scotsman W. Wilson developed the first rules. These rules included general information about the field, players, referees, information about receptions. Goals were scored by laying the ball on a raft.
Everything changed in 1880: then this type of game acquired a modern model.
Due to the fact that the competitions of this sport are of a team nature, two teams take part in them. The winning result of any of the teams will be the largest number of goals scored. This type of competition requires great physical preparation and high coordination from the participants.
Playing field
Depending on the gender of the team, there are certain limits: for men, the distance of the front lines (field boundaries) will be thirty meters with a field width of twenty, and for water polo for women, the distances will be different - twenty-five meters and seventeen, respectively. The front line is considered the distance behind the goal lines of thirty centimeters.
White gates are placed on both sides of the playing area, which consist of two racks located at a distance of three meters from each other, and a crossbar. The distance of which is also strictly regulated.
Water temperature should not be lower than sixteen degrees Celsius.
Main attribute
For this game, a clean ball with waterproof properties is used round and with an air chamber. It should weigh at least four hundred and no more than four hundred and fifty grams with an internal pressure of eighty-three to ninety-seven kPa, depending on the gender of the team.
Hats
Such an attribute as hats is very recognizable in this type of competition, as it contains devices to protect the ears from damage during powerful blows of balls.
The caps are fastened and are on the players all the time of the game competition. The color scheme of headgear is different. Some participate in white, others in contrasting colors, but different from the color of the ball. More often it is a combination of white with blue, standing on the gates in red hats.
A license plate with a height of ten centimeters is applied on each side. If the matches are international, country abbreviations or a flag are added, the height of which is also regulated.
Game process
What is water polo, how to play? Water polo is considered a tough game, seven teams play in teams, one of which is on goal.
Since it is common for a given type of competition to frequently change participants, five participants are held in reserve. They sit on benches and do not leave them with the exception of breaks. The competition has four periods, the duration of which is eight minutes.
All participants need to line up, keeping at least one meter and at least one meter from each goal. The flag is raised by the judge, which signals the correct construction of the participants. The main referee with the whistle allows the start of the game and throws the ball into the center of the zone. After touching the ball, the countdown begins.
The goal will be considered the intersection of the line ball inside the racks, it is allowed to score it from any point in the playing area, by any parts of the body. The exception is a clenched fist.
The goal will also be considered the expiration of 30 seconds, which are released to hold the ball, as well as at the end of the competition, if the ball flies and is placed in the goal.
Teams have the right to take one timeout in one period of one minute, but only the team that has the ball.
The main goal of the teams is the largest possible number of goals scored by the enemy. The beach view of water polo is slightly different by the rules. Competitions in this sport are held on the basis of the Olympic Games, championships and World Cups, and other FINA water polo competitions. The World Water Polo Championship is held according to the rules determined by the FINA Bureau. Consider some of the subtleties of the game.
The subtleties of playing water polo
The main nuances of the competition include:
- Prohibition of the participants taking the ball with both hands, except for the one who stands on goal.
- A gross participant’s mistake entails punishment in the form of conferring a free throw on the opponents, as well as removing the participant who made the mistake (the participant who was removed must go to the players for a replacement, but do not leave the water).
- Assuming a minor oversight, the participants are punished in such a way that they confer on their opponents the possibility of a free throw.
- A player who has been removed for gross violations may return under certain conditions.
Mistakes
Gross errors include:
- physical manipulations applied to the enemy, or attempts to commit them;
- attack of a participant who does not own the ball;
- manipulations during the game with racks in order to interfere with the gameplay;
- non-acceptance of decrees of judges or mistakes made over and over again;
- obstacle to the implementation of different throws;
- hit the ball with both hands.
Rough errors:
- early onset;
- it is forbidden to hold on to anything during a contest;
- performing manipulations while standing at shallow depth;
- keeping the ball in the water during an opponent’s attack;
- attempts in every way to interfere with the opponent;
- during a controversial ball you must not touch it until it touches the water;
- touching the ball with both hands;
- delaying the time interval, etc.
Game in Russia
Water polo in Russia dates back to 1910. Then this sport was included in the project of holidays in the aquatic environment. The Shuvalov school slightly changed the principles of competitions, but they did not differ much from international ones. Interests in this type of games grew more and more, and in 1915, notes were published that contained some points in tactics and practical manipulations for players.
“Football and water polo” and “Swimming game” (play a large ball on the water, swim) - these were the names of the first printed works of P. Erofeev and A. Shemansky. Such notes already showed the specialization of the participants.
The author’s recommendations presented for front-line players in the form of two “victorious” rules are very figurative:
- climb forward and be careful not to upset;
- stay on the line, keep their relative places.
Great attention was paid to tactical manipulations on the offensive. A. Shemansky suggested:
- hit more often from all distances; Frequent shots, frequent shelling of the goal oppress their defense, especially the goalkeeper;
- beat from a distance strongly, imposingly, effectively, and nearby - weakly, imperceptibly, but accurately, as if by accident.
Defensive line players were advised not to rush forward to attack. They had to “scatter” opponents in the “dumps” at the gates, break through to the ball, and withdraw it from the “crowd”. All his recommendations at that time were very reliable and progressive.
What is water polo in Soviet times? This sport then developed systematically:
- the first stage - development - began in 1920, continued through 1937;
- the second stage - formation - from 1937 to 1952;
- the third stage - the present - from 1952 to the present.
Classes in this sport began with the cities of Moscow and Leningrad.
1947 was a significant year for athletes who joined the International Amateur Swimming Federation (FINA). In 1951, a decision was made to participate in the Helsinki Olympic Games.
What is water polo today? How developed is it? Today the water polo federation of Russia is developing this sport. She has been working since 1991.
The Presidium of the Water Polo Federation of Russia is headed by A. Vlasenko
Latest news in Russia
11/03/2018, the match of the World League among women in water polo of Russia with Spain took place, in which the women of our country won with the score 12: 9.
The next game of our women will be held in Greece. We wish them good luck!