Water Polo
Aquatic team ball sport where two teams of 7 players tread water in a deep pool and try to throw the ball into the opposing goal.
What is Water Polo?
Water polo is an aquatic team sport played in a deep pool by two teams of seven players (six field players + a goalkeeper). Players may not touch the bottom of the pool at any time, so treading water — the powerful egg-beater kick — is essential. Field players may handle the ball with one hand only (the goalkeeper may use both); attacks last a maximum of 30 seconds (shot clock). Match consists of four 8-minute quarters at the elite level, with high-scoring goals thrown from inside 5-6 metres or beyond. The modern rules were codified in Britain in the 1870s; men's water polo has been in every Summer Olympics since 1900, women's since Sydney 2000.
Quick facts
Category
Aquatic Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
7 per team
Duration
~60 min
Where played
both
Field / court
pool
Country of origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Estimated origin
1870s (Scottish and English swimming clubs); modern rules 1885
Olympic
Yes
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Score more goals than the opponent by throwing the ball into their net during four quarters of play.
Match structure
The game begins with a swim-off at centre — both teams sprint for the ball. Possessing team advances via passes and dribbles (pushing the ball with the head or one hand). They have a maximum 30-second shot clock to attempt a shot. On defence, players try to steal, block or force a foul. Fouls result in free throws (minor) or exclusions (major — the offender leaves for 20 seconds).
Rules
Basic rules
No touching the bottom
Field players must remain afloat (treading water) throughout the match; touching the bottom is a turnover.
One-handed ball handling
Field players may touch the ball with one hand only; the goalkeeper may use both hands inside the 5-m zone.
Shot clock
Attacking team has 30 seconds to shoot; failure is a turnover. Reset to 20 seconds after a shot on goal that stays in play.
Exclusion fouls
Serious defensive fouls (holding, sinking, kicking) remove the offender from the pool for 20 seconds — team plays 6v7.
Penalty throw (5-m)
Awarded when an attacker is fouled inside the 5-m line in a scoring position — a free 5-m shot at goal.
Two-metre offside
An attacker may not be inside the 2-m line without the ball.
Substitutions
Unlimited flying subs during play through the re-entry zone in front of the team bench.
Advanced rules
Six-vs-five power play
After an exclusion foul, the offended team enjoys 20 s of a man-up advantage — set plays are common.
Brutality
A red card (brutality) removes a player for the entire match plus a 4-min power play.
Corner throw
If the goalkeeper knocks a shot over their own goal-line, the attacking team takes a throw from the 2-m corner.
Advantage rule
Referees may play advantage if calling a foul would disadvantage the attacking team.
Head-injury protocol
Match paused for any suspected concussion; players assessed before returning.
Scoring
One goal per legal shot into the net.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Field goal | 1 |
| Penalty throw (5-m) | 1 |
| Direct free throw goal | 1 |
Win condition · Team with more goals at full time wins. Overtime and shootouts if tied in knockouts.
Playing area
Called
pool
Dimensions
Men: 30 m × 20 m; Women: 25 m × 20 m; minimum depth 2 m so no one can touch bottom. Goals 3 m wide × 0.9 m above water.
Rectangular pool marked with coloured lane and distance markers. A red 2-m line (no attacker inside without the ball) and a yellow 6-m line (major fouls outside) define zones.
Equipment
Water polo ball
Waterproof size-5 ball (men) / size-4 (women); textured surface for grip.
Cap with ear guards
White or blue for teams; goalkeepers wear red. Numbered 1-13 with the goalkeeper #1.
Water polo swimsuit
Reinforced brief or knee-length suit; must resist grabbing.
Mouth guard
Recommended for the physical contact.
Goals & buoys
Floating goals anchored to the pool ends; visual buoys mark 2-m, 5/6-m, and half-court lines.
Positions & roles
Goalkeeper (GK)
×1Defends the goal; may use both hands inside the 5-m area.
Centre-forward / hole set
×1Positions at 2 m in front of goal; back to the net; strong physicality.
Centre-back / hole guard
×1Defends the hole set; typically the tallest defender.
Wings
×2Play near the goal-lines on either side; often left- and right-handed shooters.
Drivers
×2Perimeter attackers who initiate movement and shoot from long range.
Officiating
Two on-deck referees rule on fouls and exclusions; goal judges signal goals and corner throws. Video review is used at world-championship level.
- Two referees (equal authority, on opposite sidelines)
- Two goal judges
- Two timekeepers (game and shot clocks)
- Two secretaries
Penalties & fouls
Penalties
Minor foul (ordinary)
Common contact — awards a free throw to the fouled team; must pass or shoot from 6 m+.
Major foul (exclusion)
20-second removal from the pool for holding, sinking, kicking or brutal play; team plays 6v7.
Penalty foul (5-m)
Foul that prevents a probable goal inside the 5-m area.
Brutality (red card)
Excessive violent play — 4-minute exclusion and match ejection.
Strategies
Set the hole
Get the ball to the centre-forward at 2 m to draw double teams and either shoot or dish out.
Man-up plays
Set patterns after exclusion — usually 4-2 or 3-3 formation to work an open shot inside 20 seconds.
Press vs zone
Man-to-man press disrupts perimeter passing; zone defence collapses on the hole.
Transition break
Fast counter-attack after a save or steal — outlet the ball long to a swimming winger.
Terminology
- Egg-beater
- Alternating circular leg kick that keeps players high in the water.
- Hole set
- The centre-forward who plays with back to goal at the 2-m line.
- Skip shot
- A shot fired to bounce off the water before hitting the goal, harder for keepers to react to.
- Man-up
- 6-on-5 offensive advantage after the defence receives an exclusion.
- Kick-out
- Exclusion — 20-second removal from the pool for a major foul.
- Wet pass
- Pass thrown into the water in front of the receiver so they swim onto it.
- Dry pass
- Pass caught in the air by the receiver's hand.
- Sprint (swim-off)
- Sprint at the start of each quarter to reach the loose ball at half-way first.
- Two-metre line
- Red line — attackers may not enter without the ball.
- Shot clock
- 30-second attacking possession clock — down to 20 s after a saved shot that stays in play.
Major competitions
Summer Olympic Games
quadrennial · worldwide · since 1900
Women added in Sydney 2000.
World Aquatics Championships
biennial · worldwide · since 1973
World Aquatics World Cup
annual · worldwide · since 1979
LEN Champions League
annual · Europe (club) · since 1963
Where it is played
Governing bodies
World AquaticsWA
Founded 1908 · Lausanne, Switzerland
Official site ↗USA Water Polo
Founded 1978 · Huntington Beach, USA
Official site ↗
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Dezső Gyarmati
- Manuel Estiarte
- Tamás Kásás
- Alex Bowen
- Tania Di Mario
- Aleksandar Šapić
- Filip Filipović
- Maggie Steffens
- Sandro Sukno
- Rita Keszthelyi
Records
Most Olympic gold medals (men)
Hungary — 9 (2008)
Most Olympic gold medals (women, individual)
Maggie Steffens (USA) — 3 (2020)
Most FINA/WA World Championships (men)
Yugoslavia / Serbia — 5 (2022)
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Egg-beater kick
Learn to tread water hands-free and rise high enough to catch and pass.
- 2One-handed ball handling
Grip the ball with slightly cupped fingers — practise picking up from the water surface.
- 3
Simple pass and shot
Dry-pass and shot with a snapping wrist — target lower corners.
- 4
Field awareness
Learn the 2-m, 5-m and 6-m lines.
intermediate
- 1
Sprinting from a swim-off
Head-up freestyle to reach the ball first.
- 2
Playing the hole
Back-to-goal reception, hip roll, and quick shot on the roll.
- 3
Man-up patterns
Learn 4-2 and 3-3 rotations for the exclusion advantage.
- 4
Basic defence
Pressure hands and legs; time an interception on wet passes.
advanced
- 1
Advanced shooting
Skip shot, backhand, and lob over the goalkeeper.
- 2
Reading opponents
Recognise defensive schemes (press vs zone vs drop) and select the counter.
- 3
Endurance conditioning
Interval sets in the water — 4×8-min quarters with rapid transitions.
Frequently asked
How do players stay above water without touching the bottom?+
They use the egg-beater kick — an alternating circular leg motion that provides constant lift with a stable trunk for using the arms.
Why do goalkeepers wear a different-coloured cap?+
So referees, players and video can identify them; they may also use both hands and are the only players allowed to punch the ball.
How long is a match?+
Four 8-minute quarters at the elite level (approximately 60 minutes real time with breaks); shorter at youth levels.
What is an 'exclusion'?+
A player is sent to the penalty area for 20 seconds for a major foul; the team plays a man short until the time expires or the opponent scores.
Is water polo dangerous?+
It's very physical — underwater grappling, holding, and kicking are common. Most bruising and scratching happens out of the referee's sight below the surface.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Water polo— Wikipedia
- World Aquatics Water Polo Rules— World Aquatics