Lazy? Not an option in Water Polo

Water polo is a great game! My son just finished his first year and I had the opportunity to be assistant to the assistant coach. I was amazed the first day when the coach said to all the prospective players “everyone in the pool, down and back three times”. I wasn’t even sure if he could make it down, let alone back. The first day was an absolute struggle but he fought through. On the way home I asked him if he wanted to come back the next morning. He said hesitantly, “I think so” so I asked if it would help if dad got into the pool, as well. That is how I became assistant to the assistant coach. I myself am not a strong swimmer so I wanted to encourage him best I could along the way. Together we spent a glorious August. Every morning swimming, goofing off, and learning a great game at the crack of dawn and not even realizing we were becoming really good swimmers. We had to, or else drown. We would laugh on the drive home about how hard practice was and how when the coach would yell “do you want to keep swimming” to a cascade of crazy yeses (swimmers are nuts) we would quietly groan. As I would swim laps, practice dribbling, and tread water in the corner of the pool during scrimmages I couldn’t help but ponder the lengths we will go for our sons. This was not about living vicariously through him or pushing him to be something I wish I had been.  I did it to encourage him but he in turn encouraged and amazed me as he taught me what it means to not give in. Time and time again I thought I would need to dive into the pool during the matches as an opposing player would dunk him under water just as he attempted to shoot but each time his head would pop out of the water and he would push himself forward. As I reflect back on the season I realize what spending each morning together has done to strengthen our relationship. Not to mention, we can now both swim down and back four times together and each time with a huge smile as we reflect on what we have been through- together.

If you don’t know here is a little about the game:  The teams consist of six pool players and one goalkeeper. Gameplay involves swimming, players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a net defended by a goalie. Water polo, therefore, has strong similarities to ice hockey.

The game clock is stopped when the ball is not ‘in play’ (between a foul being committed and the free throw being taken, and between a goal being scored and the restart). As a result, the average quarter lasts around 10 minutes ‘real time’. A team may not have possession of the ball for longer than 30 seconds without shooting for the goal unless an opponent commits an ejection foul. After 30 seconds, possession passes to the other team.

The goalkeeper is the only player who can touch the ball with both hands at any time.

Players can move the ball by throwing it to a teammate or swimming with the ball in front of them. Players are not permitted to push the ball underwater in order to keep it from an opponent, or push or hold an opposing player unless that player is holding the ball (talking about a wake up call). Water polo is an intensely aggressive sport so fouls are very common, and result in a free throw during which the player cannot shoot at the goal unless beyond the “5 meter” line. If a foul is called outside the 5 meter line, the player is either able to shoot, pass or continue swimming with the ball. Water polo players need remarkable stamina because of the considerable amount of holding and pushing that occurs during the game, some allowed, most unseen or ignored by the referees (usually underwater). If you get a brutality you are also not able to finish the game. An example of a brutality would be excessively cruising or intentionally punching someone. Water polo is a physically demanding activity; action is continuous, and even at the junior level players commonly swim a mile or more during four periods of play.

Water polo is a great game for developing eye hand coordination and of course learning to become a stronger swimmer- real quick. May favorite part was the “sprint” to the ball at the beginning of each quarter.  What a great team game, a great workout, and a great feeling of accomplishment- one cannot be lazy playing this sport!