The best way to enjoy watching your athlete play the game of water polo is to learn the ins and outs of the game. 

Basic rules?  Get the ball in the goal.

But there is oh so much more to the sport of water polo.  Click Here for USA Water Polo's  specifics of the game. 

A quick parent-to-parent overview...

There are two teams that are noted as "dark" and "white" and can be distinguished by the color of their caps.  Each team has six field players in the water, plus one goalie per team (goalies wear red caps).  (*side note: caps are used to note team color, player number, and for ear protection as a ball hitting your ear at 20 mph could do some nasty damage to the ear drum).

Athletes play in a 30m x 20m pool (or something close) that is at least 8 ft deep.  So no standing on the bottom.  Yes, the athletes are swimming the entire time.  You'll hear your athlete talk about "egg beatering" which is similar to treading water (but far more efficient).

Games begin when the ref blows the whistle.  Athletes work together to get the ball in the goal while avoiding the other team's defense. 

Fouls are called for a variety of reasons although among the most common  "minor" foul is keeping a player from moving when they are not holding the ball.  If you're holding the ball... the defense can do almost anything to get to it.   There is much more detail on this on the USA Water Polo site.

Game times vary depending on team-level (varsity, junior varsity, age group, etc). Generally speaking, games are 4 7-minute quarters, with a short break between quarters and the half.  At the end of the game, the team with the most points... wins.

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