Water Polo
What is water polo?!
Think of the line up in a football or hockey match. You have a goal at each end and a goalie in each goal. The players have positions to either attack or defend. The winner is the team that scores the most goals. Then think of this taking place in the water.
Each team has 7 players in the water at one time, including the goalie.
The ball is thrown or pushed and can only be held in one hand...unless you’re the goalie when you can use two hands.
In grown up water polo your feet aren’t allowed to touch the bottom of the pool but in mini polo it’s played in shallow water and you can stand to play.
With thanks to Swim England for the use of this video.
So how can you get involved in water polo?
Visit www.swimming.org/waterpolo
In the Getting Started section it leads straight to learning to swim.
With thanks to Swim England for the use of this video.
Levels 8-10 of Learn to Swim has water polo specific sections in the Aquatic Skills Framework.
If your swimming level is high enough you can go to the Find a club section of the website. All the water polo clubs are listed with their website links or you can use the search button.
Let us know how you get on at contact@bsporty.co.uk or @bsportymagazine
Name:
Sam Swainson
Age:
18
Team:
Rotherham Metro
Water polo position:
Centre Back and position 1,2
Key role in matches:
Defence and control the game
Skills needed to play this position:
Speed, Strength, fitness, Game awareness
How long have you played water polo?
9 Years
Other sports that led you to play water polo:
Swimming
How often do you train?
12hrs - 14hrs per week
Why should kids try it as a sport?
Great fun, great for teamwork and fitness.
Name:
Thomas Manley
Age:
18
Team:
England and GB Under 19 Team
Water polo position:
Goal keeper
Key role in matches:
To stop the attacking team from scoring goals from each wave of attack throughout the game.
Skills needed to play this position:
Strong communication is a skill required as it improves the teams awareness in defence, being powerful and agile is another skill which is required, as you have to be explosive coming out of the water and quick enough to react to a shot. A mental skill which is needed is determination and perseverance, this is much needed in European games when the quality of the opposition increases, and in tough games, this will be one of the deciding factors between a win or a loss.
How long have you played water polo?
7 years
Other sports that led you to play water polo:
Goal Keeper for Football Team and swimming for my local club
How often do you train?
4 times a week in pool plus land training
Why should kids try it as a sport?
Bring life skills in swimming, promotes a strong self esteem and confidence, as well as friendship and team building. Opportunities for competition on a local and international stage. It also builds character in resilience and perservance.
Name:
Thomas hunt
Age:
18
Team:
Cheltenham
Water polo position:
1/2
Key role in matches:
To create scoring opportunities during a game and to be a threat on a man up
Skills needed to play this position:
Good stamina and speed, game awareness, good fake/shot and defending.
How long have you played water polo?
8 years
Other sports that led you to play water polo:
I use to be a swimmer but then got bored and took up water polo after watching my older cousin play for abit.
How often do you train?
I train five times in the gym and five times in the pool that consists of one swimming and four water polo.
Why should kids try it as a sport?
It’s good to play a team sport as I teaches you life lessons that you might not get from playing any other sport, it is also great fun and it is great for you health as you are constantly working as you can’t touch the side/floor.
Name:
Dan Atkinson
Age:
17
Team:
England U19/ Invicta / Chelmsford
Water polo position:
4/5 2nd centre
Key role in matches:
Driving in attack creating space, with the option to roll in from the wing as a second centre forward, with this also have two way play and the ability to defend all positions and if rotated into centre back will be able to hold for a time.
Skills needed to play this position:
Agility and speed are vital and when combined with spatial awareness and the strength to hold position in the pool is the optimum combination to be most effective in this position. With this good game vision is needed whilst on the arc to recognise where the free player is and work the ball to the side that the centre forward is set and give a good pass to give them the best opportunity to score. A strong outside shot is also needed for when the shot is needed you have the confidence and ability to step up take the correct shot. Defensively endurance is key with it being vital to be able to counter defend from the wing and being aware to when you need to cover to minimise the chance of a counter attack goal from the other team and then continued into a good mobile, defensive position for 6v6 and 6v5 defeat.
How long have you played water polo?
4/5 years
Other sports that led you to play water polo:
Rugby for club and county, swimming for my local club.
How often do you train?
3 times a week in pool plus land training
Why should kids try it as a sport?
The ability to compete in a team is rewarding and the creation of friendships as well as social skills at regional and national camps to meet new people and be comfortable in these situations. It also provides a high level of fitness due to the demands of the game that can be transferred into all sports.
