Water Polo Study Guide Grotthuss The Field of Play *2 meter lines (Red)-Lines that may not be crossed by offensive players without possession of the ball, unless the ball is inside the line and they are behind the line of the ball. Corner throws are taken for the 2-meter line, and goal throws are taken between the goal line and the 2-meter line. These lines are Red in Sunny s pool. *4-meter lines- (Yellow) in sunny s pool Blue. Lines from which penalty shots are taken. Also, the goalie becomes a regular field player if he crosses the 4-meter line. These lines are Blue in sunny s pool. *7 meter Lines (Green)-Lines outside of which an offensive player may immediately shoot the ball in one continuous motion (No pumping or faking) following an ordinary foul. *Mid-Pool (White)-Marks the spot where the referee drops the ball during the sprint. This is also where players line up after a goal. The goalie cannot cross mid-pool. In sunny s pool the line is Black.
Positions HS-Hole Set-An offensive player who positions himself directly in front of the opponent s goal to run the offense. Teammates pass the ball to the hole-set, who attempts to shoot it or pass it to an open teammate. Also called the center forward, hole-man, or 2 meter man. DR-Driver-Field players who constantly rotate around the perimeter of the offense to find scoring opportunities. A driver is not assigned to one position: point, positioned at the tip of the offense farthest from the opponents goal: flat, positioned about 7 meter from the goal line: and wings, positioned near the 2-meter line. Most driving occurs from the point and flat positions; the wings rotate up to the flat as teammates drive their direction. Goalie- Defensive player who guards the goal by blocking the opponent s shots. The goalie can touch the ball with two hands at once. Hole Guard- A defensive player who guards the hole-set. The hole-guard s main objective is to prevent the hole-set from scoring, often by purposely committing ordinary fouls. Also called the center back. History *Water Polo began in the 1870 s in England. *1900 Men s water polo was added to the Olympics *2000 Women s water polo was added to the Olympics Goals Regulation goals are 10 feet wide, three feet high in water deeper than 5 feet. In shallow water, water less than 5 feet, the goals are 10 feet wide, 8 feet high. Goals for our class are not regulation.
Teams Seven players constitute a regulation team: 3 forwards, 3 backs and a goal tender. Time The duration of a regulation Water Polo game is 24 minutes. Four periods of 6 minutes each. In class we will play with 15-minute halves. Goal Keeper The goalkeeper may jump from the bottom of the pool to defend the goal. The goalkeeper may go up to the centerline, but not beyond it. Outside the goalkeeper s own 4-yard area, he/she has the same restrictions as any regular player Start of Game Both teams line up across their ends of the pool in the water. Ball is tossed in center of pool and both teams swim for the ball. A goal is scored when the ball passes completely over the goal line into the goal, provided at the start or re-start of the game the following requirements have been met: 1. The ball has been played by a player of each team 2. The ball has been played by two members of the same team, in which case the scorer must be within half the distance of the goal Goal Throw If an offensive player was the last man to handle the ball before it crossed the goal line, it is put into play by the goalkeeper of the defending team. A goal throw must be made between the goal posts and thrown beyond the two yard lines
Corner Throw If a defensive player handles the ball last before it crosses his goal line, a player of the other team at the two-yard line puts it into play. Penalty Throw A player is willfully fouled when attempting to score within the four-yard line. During the penalty throw, all players must keep their original positions at the time of the whistle. The player taking the penalty throw can choose any position on the four-yard line from which to attempt a shot, but must throw the ball directly at the goal immediately on the referee s signal. A defending player within the four-yard area may intercept the throw. General Rules 1. It is a foul to purposely splash water in the face of an opponent. 2. A player may not reach around the back or side of another player. 3. Players cannot swim or walk while holding the ball. 4. Ball is tossed, as jump ball by referee, when players are massed and holding ball from play. (Ball must hit the water before it can be handled by a player). 5. Interfering with an opponent when he is not in possession of the ball is illegal. (Swimming on the back or legs of an opponent constitutes impeding). 6. Regulation rules prohibit touching or catching the ball with both hands at any time. 7. It is a foul for a player to push off from an opponent when playing the ball or changing positions. 8. If, in the opinion of the referee, a player commits an ordinary foul willfully, the referee shall order him out of the
water until a goal has been scored. (For class purposes, penalties for infractions will be 1 minute out of the water). 9. Players cannot go within the two yards of their opponent s goal line, or remain there, except: a. When in possession or control of the ball b. When behind the line of the ball 10. After a goal, players do not have to retreat back to their own half. 11. In the shallow end, players may not be in contact with the bottom while shooting. 12. Players cannot push off the wall to gain advantage. 13. It is illegal to submerge the ball. 14. It is a personal foul for a player to deliberately interfere with a free throw. A player more than two yards away is not interfering with the throw in. 15. Penalty enforcement: 1 st penalty out 1 minute, 2 nd out 2 minutes, 3 rd out for the day. 16. Legal Shots must originate between red and black center line in offensive half of the pool. 17. Throw in after turnover is free and cannot be direct shot on goal. Free Throw After Major Fouls: If a player commits certain major fouls, and is not ordered from the water, a goal may be scored by the player fouls direct from the free t The following major fouls come under this classification: To hold, sink, pull back or retard the free limb movement of an opponent, or to impede him in any way unless he is holding the ball. When a player is willfully fouled within the four-yard area of his opponent s goal, the referee may order the offending player out of the water and award a penalty throw to the player fouled.
Types of Defense *Man to Man (person to person) Man *Zone *Guarding in front of Man *Switching *Guarding behind Offensive Moves *Passing *Shooting *Dribbling *Spinning Terminology Advantage Rule- A referee s decision to let play continue when a foul was committed that, if called, would be a disadvantage to the team that was fouled. Assist -A pass to a teammate that leads directly to scoring a goal. Attacker-The offensive player with the ball. Backhand-A pass or shot that is thrown backwards (commonly from a shot from the hole-set) Ball under- The player holding the ball, if it is forced under water as a result of contact with a defender, is charged with ordinary foul, and loses possession Ball under- Can ordinary foul for taking or holding the ball underwater while in contact with an opposing player Brutality- A violent foul. The fouling player is ejected from the game without substitution. The opponents are awarded a penalty shot, and the ejected player s team plays one man down for the next four minutes of game time. Bunny-When a goal is power shot and scored close to the goalkeepers head. Caps-Head gear worn for game play usually teams wear different colored caps to identify teammates.
Cherry picking-when a player stays on the offensive side of the pool even when his team is on defense, waiting for a turnover. Sometimes will result in a long pass followed by an uncontested goal. Corner Throw- A free throw by the offensive team when the ball goes out of bounds over the goal line and was last touched by the defense Donut- A goal scored over the goalie s outstretched arms Dribble-To swim with the ball using a modified (head above water) front crawl stroke Drive-To swim quickly toward the goal without the ball to become open for a pass Drop-A strategy in which a defender swims toward the goal to protect it from incoming offensive players Dry Pass-A Pass in which the ball never touches the water Eggbeater-A kicking motion, using alternating circular motions of the leg, for treading water Exclusion Foul (Kickout)-Major Foul. Results in a 20 second time out or in class 1-minute time out. Examples: holding, intentionally splashing, or sinking a player. FINA-Federation Internationale de Natation, the international organization governing water polo (and swimming) competitions and rules. Free throw-a free throw awarded to the defense when the ball goes out of bounds over the goal line and was last touched by the offense Gamed- A player is Gamed who receives a third exclusion foul or is removed from play for misconduct and may not return for the remainder of the game. 3 fouls your out rule! Give and Go-Offensive player passes the ball then drives towards the goal then receives the pass back so a shot can be attempted. Goal-When the ball passes completely over the goal line and between the goal posts and under the crossbar. Worth one point.
Goalkeeper or Goalie-The player on the team who remains in front of the goal to prevent the opposite team from scoring. He /She may not pass the half pool line. For class rules the goalie may not throw the ball over the mid-pool line. Goal throw-after the ball is touched by the offensive team and goes over the goal line, the goalie will restart play by throwing the ball from behind the 2-meter line into play. Greenie-A quick shot by a driving perimeter player who receives a pass from the hole-set Hole set-center forward. Offensive player positions in front of the goal on the 2-meter line. Impede-To prevent the movement of a player not holding the ball Lane press-strategy in which defensive players put pressure, without fouling, on the player with the ball and attempt to block the passing lanes Lob Shot-An outside water shot thrown with a high arc, usually goes over the goalie s hands and under the crossbar. Man to Man-A defensive tactic where a player guards a player Neutral Throw-The referee restarts play by throwing the ball into the pool between two opposing players, giving each an equal opportunity to recover the ball. (Like a jump ball in basketball). This results when fouls are made from players from each time at the same time or when the referee can t make the call one way or the other Ordinary Foul-Violation of minor rules resulting in a free throw. Examples: two hands and sinking the ball Outlet-A pass from the goalie to an offensive player at the start of a counter-attack. Also called a release Passing Lane- The area between the ball carrier and the intended receiver of the ball Penalty Throw-A shot awarded when any foul is committed inside the 5-meter line and the offensive player had an opportunity to score, or a goal was prevented by the foul. The goalie is the only player who can defend the penalty throw.
Power Play-The offensive advantage when a defensive player serves exclusion foul (20 seconds). Also called a 6 on 5 or manup Power Shot-An outside of the water in which a player propels his body out of the water and uses his momentum to shoot the ball into the net. Sink-An exclusion foul which a player pushes an opposing player under water when he does not have the ball. Skip Shot-A shot where the ball will skip off the water into the goal, also called Bounce shot. Slough-The defensive strategy in which a defender drops off a Driver to help guard passes into the hole-set. This tactic allows the defense and opportunity to double team the hole-set player. Spinning-An offensive move to get by a defender. The offensive player turns 180 degrees towards the goal and the defender ends up trailing behind. This move also often draws a foul. Stalling-Failing to take a shot within 30 seconds, a turnover. Strong side-the side of the pool on the same side as the ball Turnover-A team loses possession of the ball opponents ball. Weak side-the side of the pool opposite the ball. During the the other side of the pool Wet pass-a pass in which the ball lands in the water. A wet pass is used to set the hole-set Wing-The position on offense on either side of the center forward, along the 2-meter line. Zone-Defensive set up in which players are designed to guard an area, instead of a specific player.