What is Water Polo?
Are you looking for an exciting, dynamic and fast-paced team sport? As the only team sport played in the water, players must work together to outscore the opposing team through swimming, passing and shooting the ball. Sound easy enough? Did we mention the sport is played in deep water and you can only use one hand?
If you love the water and enjoy being in a team environment, water polo is the sport for you!
​
Although not as well known in Canada as other sports, water polo is popular internationally and is recognized as one of the most demanding team sports for developing well-rounded, physically fit athletes in both strength and endurance. That being said, Water Polo is more than just an Olympic Sport. Water Polo is a lifetime activity enjoyed at all levels and at all ages across the world.
Teams consist of six players and a goalie. Game play involves swimming, treading water (using a kicking motion known as an eggbeater kick), passing a ball about the size of volleyball, and scoring by getting the ball into the opponent’s net.
​
​As a game, water polo is an amazing combination of a team ball sport and water. The game is similar to a scaled down version of soccer in the pool but utilizes a lot of the same tactics as basketball. Water polo players must rely on their strong arms and legs to propel themselves not just up and down the pool but also up out of the water for passes and shots. Put the qualities of a competitive swimmer, synchronized swimmer and football player together, and you would be close to the qualities of a water polo player.
Water polo is more than just a physical activity. Players have many opportunities to meet friends, travel and excel in this sport.
Frequently asked questions
How physical is water polo?
​
Water polo is a full-contact sport. This means that players are nearly always in contact with one another. To defend an offensive player, the defender keeps at least one hand on the player at all times. Players jostle each other in the water to get control of the ball. However, the physicality of the game is controlled by the referees.
​
Sometimes players will commit a foul in order to stop a player shooting for goal or getting into space. Players will also try and stop other players even if they haven’t got the ball. They may try to grab their opponent’s shoulders, back, or legs. This is also a foul.
​
A major foul includes sinking a player, swimming on another player’s back, or trying to stop the other player from swimming. If a player commits a major foul three times they must sit out the whole match.
​
Field of Play
​
The standard size of a water polo course is typically 30m x 20m. The pool must be at least 1.8 meters deep, ensuring players are treading water or swimming at all times. You’ll often find that pools might not meet these exact dimensions, but the fundamentals remain the same. Key areas of the pool are marked by coloured lines:
​
-
Goal Line (White): The ball must cross this line entirely for a goal to count.
-
2-Meter Line (Red): Offensive players cannot enter this area without possession of the ball.
-
5-Meter Line (Yellow): Fouls inside this area that prevent a probable goal result in a penalty shot.
-
Center Line (White): Marks the halfway point of the pool; after each goal, play restarts here.
​
​
Players and Teams
​
Each team consists of seven players in the water at the start of the game—six field players and one goalkeeper. The home team typically wears white or light-colored caps, while the visiting team wears dark caps. Goalkeepers wear red caps.
Substitutions are allowed after goals, during time-outs, or between periods. During live play, substitutions must be made through the designated re-entry area near the team’s bench.
​
What is “eggbeater”?
Eggbeater is a specific way of treading water that is necessary to play water polo. Eggbeater is a fundamental skill that enables endurance during play, hard shooting, great defense, good passing, etc. Here’s a good intro to what eggbeater looks like.
​