by Sarah Michelson

Created on: June 07, 2009   Last Updated: June 12, 2009

The main goal of waterpolo is to score. Waterpolo is played in a full sized pool, with goals, called cages, at either end, with seven players from each team in the water at a time

The players consist of six field players and a goalie. The field players usually arrange themselves in a three by three formation in front of the cage on offense, with three players close to the cage, the wings and the set, and three further away, the flats and the point. The point and set are in the middle, and establish at what point the offense sets up. Generally, the set is at two meters, the point at five.

Defenders usually set up a man on man defense, in which each player takes one other player. However, they will sometimes strategically 'sluff' or retreat from their opponent, so that they can cover more players, especially if they are not covering a highly skilled player. Some teams also play zone defense, in which the defenders merely take certain zones.

The waterpolo ball can only be handled with one hand, and putting it underwater or touching it with two leads to a turnover. As soon as a team touches the ball, the shotclock starts, either with thirty or thirty-five seconds for the team to shoot or make a turnover. If the shotclock runs out, the team must turnover the ball to their opponents, for whom the shotclock then starts.

Major rules regarding fouling include no grabbing, no swimming or reaching over another players back, and no touching the bottom. The consequences of these range from a free shot to an ejection, in which a player must leave the court for twenty seconds or until a turnover. Generally, the referee cannot see fouls occurring under the water, meaning that players can do just about anything underwater. Like most ball sports, if the ball goes out of bounds, it is turned over to the other team.

The game starts with a sprint for the ball, which is tossed into the middle of the pool. Generally, the fastest players on each team swim for it, though some teams employ a strategy of throwing the sprint to get the ball later.

Players generally stay upright and move about in the water with a combination of 'eggbeatering', a form of treading water, and head-up freestyle. Both of these require a significant amount of fitness, and if either is not strong, a player is likely to be drowned.

Waterpolo is a fast paced, fun, and intense game. Players swim back and forth across the pool while treading water, scoring goals, blocking shots, and making passes, all in thirty-five second chunks of time.

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