Olympic Water Polo Rules & Officials

At the international and Olympic level, water polo is governed by FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation). They also govern swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, and masters swimming. The detailed water polo rules for all aspects of the competition are available through the FINA website.

The Game

Water polo is played as a 6 on 6 game plus goalkeepers, so each team has 7 in the water at a time. How long is a game? Each water polo game is made up of four, 7-minute, quarters. Total squad size is 13 players. If there are less than 6 swimmers in the water, a team does not have to have a goalie. Substitutions may be made at anytime during a game (like hockey) but the players must make the exchange in a specific area behind their own goal line, called the re-entry area.

The game starts with all players lined up at their own goal line. The referee blows a whistle and throws the ball into play at mid-pool. The swimmers sprint to their positions, with some players from each team swimming to get possession of the ball.

Players try to throw the ball into a goal. No one except the goalie may touch the ball with more than one hand at a time. The ball is not to be totally submerged at any time.

Swimmers either pass the ball to other teammates, swim with the ball bouncing and floating between their arms as they move forward (sort of like dribbling a basketball), or take a shot at the goal to score a point. There is a 35-second shot clock; a shot must be taken before time expires or ball possession changes.

A goal is when the ball completely crosses the goal line, an imaginary surface across the front of the goal. The ball could go part-way in and be pulled out by the goalie and would not be scored. The team scoring the most goals at the end of regulation time is the winner. If there is a tie at the end of regulation time:

1. There are two overtime periods, each three minutes long, with the team scoring the most goals declared the winner.
2. If there is still a tie after overtime, then a shoot-out is held. Five players from each team shoot for the goal.
3. If there is still a tie, then the same 5 shoot again until one misses and the other scores a goal.

All fouls result in a change in possession of the ball or a penalty shot if it occurred within a zone 5-meters from the goal. There are minor fouls (one whistle blast from the referee) which results in just a change in possession. A major foul (two whistle blasts) results in the guilty player removal from the game for a 20-seconds, which creates unbalanced situations. There are also fouls (called "brutality" fouls) which result in a 4-minutes ejection for intentionally hitting or kicking someone; a player could also be ejected from the game, with the missing player replaced after 20-seconds. Players getting more than two major fouls are out of the game. When possession changes, the offense gets a free throw from the spot of the foul, an unhindered chance to pass the ball to another player within about 3-seconds.

Examples of fouls include:

Minor Fouls
• Pushing the ball underwater (even if you are forced to do so by an defensive player)
• Touching the ball with both hands
• Coming into contact with the arm of a player that has the ball
• Hitting the ball with a fist
• Throwing the ball out-of-bounds
• Pushing of the pool side, pool bottom, or another player

Major Fouls
• Intentionally holding the player with the ball
• Interfering with a free throw
• Pushing another player underwater (called sinking the player)
• Swearing
• The player with the ball intentionally pushing another player (think "offensive foul" in basketball)

Brutal Fouls
• Hitting another player
• Kicking another player

The Pool

There are two floating goals, one secured at each end of the playing area. The goal usually has a flat front surface and is lined with a net. It is 3-meters wide and .9 meters high

The pool is deep enough (1.8 to 2 meters) to prevent swimmers from touching or pushing off of the bottom. The field of play is marked with lane ropes, swimmers are not permitted to touch or grab them in any way. They may not push off of them (or off of any wall) either. The pool is 30 meters long between the goals for men's games, 25-meters for women. The pool is 20 meters wide.

Swim Gear

Water polo players wear colored swim caps (that tie under their chin) to identify themselves to their teammates and to identify the goalie. The caps have special plastic cups over ear holes to protect the player's ears.

The players wear swimsuits - sometimes two suits. At the Olympic level, the suits are specifically designed for water polo, with a firm fit (extra fabric could be grabbed by an opposing player) and are somewhat slick to make it harder for an opposing player to hold the swimmer.

The floating ball is made of a special material that allows it to be gripped when wet. Different size balls are used for men and women.

The Officials

There are two referees, two goal judges, several timekeepers and secretaries. Each has specific duties. The referees control the field of play and watch for fouls. The goal judges determine if a ball shot at the goal scores. The timekeepers and secretaries keep track of goals, game time, penalty time, the shot clock, number of penalties per player, and other game statistics.

How Medals are Awarded

Teams must qualify for the Olympic games at qualifying tournaments. There are 12 men's teams and 8 women's team in the Olympic tournament. The men's tournament starts with two, 6-team pools of round-robin play, with the top four teams from each of those advancing to quarter finals. The quarter final winners move on to the medal rounds, with the winner taking the gold medal. All 8 women's teams play each other in the first round. The top four teams then advance to semi-finals, with the winners advancing to the gold medal game.

HISTORY OF THE GAME OF WATER POLO

Water Polo began as a sport sometime in the 19th century in England, although the early versions of the activity bear little resemblance to the modern day version played today.

The origins of water polo are obscure to say the least but we do know that the word "polo" is the English pronunciation of the Indian word "pulu," that means ball. Just as the ball game that is played on horseback became known as "polo," the ball game played in the water became known as "water polo," the name is the only connection between the sports.

The game of water polo was first played in the United States in 1888. It featured the old rugby style of play which looked like American football in the water. "American style" water polo became very popular and by the late 1890's was played in such places as Madison Square Garden and Boston's Mechanics Hall, attracting 14,000 spectators to the big national championship games.

It is believed that British holiday resort owners invented this rather strange pastime during the mid-1800s, in an attempt to attract guests. The first games were played on nearby rivers and lakes, and the game's passing similarity to horseback polo gave it the name "water polo."

By 1869, a rubber ball had began to replace the original ball which was made from a pig's stomach. In 1870 the London Swimming Club formulated rules for the sport and hosted the first official game at the Crystal Palace Plunge in London. Games resembled rugby on the water, and were based more on brute strength than athletic skill. Underwater wrestling would leave some players barely conscious when they managed to get to the surface.

A common ploy players used was to place the small ball in their swimming trunks and swim underwater towards the goal, where they would score by removing the ball and slamming it onto the pool deck.

In 1880, rules were introduced in Scotland to shift the game's focus to skill over force. A bigger ball, similar to a soccer ball, was used, nets were introduced and players could no longer tackle opponents who did not have possession of the ball. The same rules still apply to today's game.

The game that evolved into contemporary water polo started off as an adaptation of rugby played in lakes and rivers; the object of the game was to "carry" the ball to the opponent's side.

The Scottish rules were adopted throughout Great Britain, and the game quickly caught on in countries like Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Austria and France, which began playing the sport in the late 1800s.

In 1888, Water polo was introduced into the United States by English swimming instructor John Robinson. The game featured the old rugby style of play which was much like gridiron football in the water. "American style" water polo became very popular and by the late 1890's was played in such venues as the Boston's Mechanics Hall and Madison Square Garden.

The game of the day featured set plays like the "flying salmon," where the player with the ball leapt through the air from the backs of his teammates to score a goal. Violence was the game's main attraction.

As the sport grew in popularity, so did its level of violence, with little rules to prevent it. In the 1800's the intent of the game was to place the ball with two hands against the wall at one end of the pool to score. Players often swam underwater in an attempt to gain an advantage, only to be attacked by their defenders in the same manner.

In addition to the aggressive play, many of the pools and lakes in which it was played were often poorly filtered and very murky, creating even more mystery regarding the actions that took place beneath the surface. It was not uncommon for players to be dragged from the water unconscious. This may have added to the popularity, with crowds as many as 14,000 attending some games in New York City. In fact, its popularity was so great it was named the first Olympic team sport in 1900. Interestingly enough, women's water polo was the last Olympic team sport to be added in 2000.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world adopted the Scottish rules: Hungary in 1889, Belgium in 1900, Austria and Germany in 1894 and France in 1895. By 1900, water polo was so popular it became the first team sport added to the Olympic Games program and has remained an Olympic sport ever since. Great Britain won gold at each of the first four Olympic Games.

In 1911, the Federation International de Natation Amateur (FINA), the international governing body for all amateur water sports, adopted the Scottish rules for all international water polo events.

United States continued to play by their own rules until 1912, when, instead of playing their semi-final game in the National Championship tournament, the New York Athletic Club and the Chicago Athletic Association chose to fight instead. The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) cancelled its sponsorship of water polo until 1914 when United States clubs finally agreed to play under the more civilized international rules.

Over the years the game has evolved to more of a soccer style in which an opponent could only make contact if a player held the ball. In addition, the evolution of swimming changed the game from brute strength underwater to one of passing and speed above the surface.

Women were not allowed to compete at the Olympics until the 2000 Games in Sydney, where Australia won the gold medal, the United States took the silver, and the bronze went to Russia. The first Water Polo World Cup for women was held by FINA (the sport's governing body) in 1979, and the first World Championships took place in 1986.

The most notorious incident in the history of Olympic water polo took place during the 1956 match between the Soviet Union and Hungary. Four weeks prior to the Games, 200,000 Soviet troops invaded Hungary to suppress an anti-Communist uprising, so there was plenty of bad blood between the two sides before the scrappy game started.

The game was marred by brawls and became so brutal that officials called it off altogether. Hungary was leading 4-0 at the time and was declared the winner; the team advanced to the finals and won the gold.

Hungary has also fielded some of the most celebrated water polo players of all time. Dezso Gyarmati won a medal at five different Olympics from 1948-1964 (3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze). Oliver Halassy, who represented Hungary three times between 1928-1936, won 2 gold and 1 silver. What makes his medal count even more extraordinary is that Halassy had one of his legs amputated below the knee as a child.

Hungarians are well-known for their extraordinary play in the water. Hungary has won the most medals in Olympic water polo history, with a total of thirteen, including 7 gold, four of them coming between 1932-1956. Like other notable southern European nations, such as Italy, Spain and Yugoslavia, its national team draws its players from a pool of talent that plays in the professional leagues.

Water polo within the United States was adopted as a championship sport for men in the collegiate system in the early 70's, while women were added about 30 years later as participation grew. Today, collegiate and high school teams can be found throughout the country.

Internationally the game is played all over the world, with Europe and Asia boasting the world's strongest programs for men. The USA is the only non-European team to win Olympic medals. In addition to the gold won by the New York Athletic Club in 1904, the United States men's program won silver medals in 1984 and 1988 and bronze medals in 1924, 1932 and 1972.

The recent addition of women's water polo paints a different story for dominance, as Canada and the United States often vie for top billing with the world's best as the Americans have proven to be among the world's best repeatedly contending for the Olympic and World Championship titles.