| Water Polo Brief Introduction Tradition Competitive water polo demands intelligence, strength, stamina, skill, and above all, consistent teamwork. The superb quality of Oxford's academics, athletics, and social life provides an ideal environment for water polo excellence. Water polo began in England in the late 19th century, probably as an outgrowth of football (soccer) in the water. Water polo is the oldest team sport in the Olympic Games, with the first Olympic water polo game taking place in 1900 in Paris. THE Varsity match, is an annual game between the ancient Oxford and Cambridge universities, and is the longest running waterpolo fixture in the world. It is currently in its 107th (?) year. Of course, we have seen many rule changes including moving from pigs-bladder balls to plastic luminous yellow, and from no movement of any player after a foul has been blown until it has been taken (penalty = major foul), and the three minors in a row = 1 major rule both having been dropped (Phew !!). Players must continually swim or tread water, make quick bursts for the ball, catch and pass the ball in one hand, and use their lower body to propel themselves above the water to shoot. Water polo combines elements of basketball (teamwork), football (contact), and hockey (shooting). In water polo, there is no such thing as standing still. Even at rest, the players must tread water to stay afloat. Exercise physiologists call it the "most physically demanding of all sports." For an introduction to water polo and its rules, try my information page. This is a spruced up version of the Australian Institute of Sport Water Polo page. In addition, you can monitor ongoing discussions about water polo through the rec.sport.water-polo newsgroup. | |
|
