Facts About Water Polo
After understanding the game of Water Polo, now it’s time to know some of the interesting facts about Water Polo.
Amazing Facts About Water Polo
- The Water Polo was originally called ‘Water Rugby’ and it used to be played in the rivers and lakes in England.
- Water Polo referees always wear white clothes so that the players and the coach can identify them at night, strange isn’t it?
- William Wilson of the UK is credited for giving rules and regulations for the game of Water Polo during the late 19th century.
- There are many variants in Water Polo and each variant has its own set of rules and regulations.
- The Goal Keeper is the only player in the team of 7 who can hold the ball with both hands when he is within the five-meter area in front of the goal post.
- Prince William of the United Kingdom was used to be the captain of the St Andrew’s University Water Polo Team.
- First time Water Polo was introduced in the Olympics in 1990 and Women’s Water Polo was introduced ten years later.
- The size of the Water Polo ball is almost the same of a soccer ball or a volleyball.
- A Water Player is allowed to make three serious fouls, which is called ejections. On the 3rd ejection the player is asked to leave the game for the rest of the game.
- A 30-second shot clock is used by the timekeeper just to keep the game going.
- In the first ever Water Polo finals at the Olympics in 2000 at Sydney the Australian women beat the USA Women to clinch the gold medal. Russia got the bronze medal.
- A Water Polo player swims at least one and a half miles during the entire period of the game.
- A Water Polo ball can speed up to 60 miles per hour.
- Water Polo was considered to be harmful and violent in the USA when it was first invented, but now it is a regular part of USA sports and it is very much popular sport in the country.
- USA has won at least a medal in each of the Women Water Polo competition in the Olympics since it was introduced in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.