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An Introduction to Water Polo
 

  • Water polo originated more than 100 years ago and historically has been long dominated by eastern European countries it has become a popular sport in both Canada and the U.S.  Players and spectators love the fast paced action and physical nature of the game. Whether it is the motion and jockeying for position, the wicked shooting or the rugged defence, water polo intrigues fans and even the uninitiated find it exciting. 

  • Water Polo is considered to be one of the toughest and most physically demanding sports. It requires fast swimming, great physical strength and high cardiovascular stamina. International athletes train at least 6 hours a day in the pool, working on their strength, fitness, speed and flexibility to reach the level of fitness required to compete.
  • These skills help them tread water without using their hands, swim four to five kilometres in an average match, shoot and pass accurately when they are physically exhausted, and deal with, or even inflict, heavy contact. It is estimated that the average water polo athlete will lose between 5 and 10 pounds during an Olympic tournament. 
  • A game of extreme physical contact, it has been called “the most physically demanding and mentally challenging of all sports" by leading exercise physiologists. Not only are water polo players considered to be among the best conditioned athletes in the world, covering up to 5 kilometers in a 75 minute game, but they are continuously stopping and starting motion, thinking about where the ball is and where it is going and working together in sync with 6 other team mates.

There are 3 clocks in water polo:

  • The match clock times 8 minutes for each period and is paused for each stoppage in play (as in basketball or ice hockey).
  • The shot clock - each attack has up to 30 seconds of possession before play is reversed.
  • The exclusion clock - when a player is "kicked out" or excluded (sin binned) for 20 seconds.

 

  • Canada is fast becoming recognized as a water polo power house. The caliber of our teams is increasing dramatically and now poses a serious challenge to the eastern European stronghold of the past.  Canadian National Teams from Youth to Senior levels consistently medal in international competition, World Championships, World Aquatic Championships and the Pan Am Games.
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