Water Polo
Author：tercal From： Updated：2007-11-28
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Women's water polo was one of the new events at the Sydney 2000 Games, adding another dimension to a game long ranked among the most demanding. Prohibited from touching the bottom or side of the pool through four seven-minute quarters, water polo players swim up to five kilometres in a game. They require the technique and endurance of a champion swimmer, plus a football player's finesse in passing, dribbling and shooting for goal and a rugby player's strength to battle for the ball.
In fact, water polo began as an aquatic version of rugby in the mid-1800s in England, before evolving into a waterborne semblance of football (soccer). By the turn of the century, it had become so popular in Europe and North America that it was included in the programme for the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris.
Tall, long-armed athletes are the prototype for the game, where 85% of the body is submerged. About the same underwater percentage holds true for the grabbing, holding, kicking, wrestling and yanking of swimsuits that makes the game even tougher.
Descipline's origin
Water polo was developed in Europe and the United States as two separate sports. In the United States it was termed softball water polo, with the ball being an unfilled bladder. The sport was very rough, often degenerating into numerous fights. In 1897, Harold Reeder of New York formulated the first American rules for the discipline, which were aimed at decreasing the excessive roughness of the game. The game is called water polo because players initially rode on floating barrels that resembled mock horses, and swung at the ball with mallet-like sticks, similar to those used in equestrian polo.
Ultimately, the European style of water polo predominated and today it is the form of the game practised universally. It is more scientific, faster and less dangerous than the original American game. The current game consists of seven-man teams playing four seven-minute periods.
Olympic History
Men's water polo was played during the 1900 Paris Olympics. It has been contested at all Games since 1908. By far the greatest exponents of water polo have been the Hungarians. Between 1928 and 1980, Hungary never failed to win a medal at the Olympics, and took home 6 of 10 possible gold medals between 1932 and 1976. Despite the fact that Hungary did not compete in 1984, a team from that country did win one Olympic bronze medal between 1980 and 1996. In 2000, Hungary came back to win its 7th water polo gold medal.
Women's water polo made its Olympic debut during the 2000 Sydney Games. The Australian team became the first to win gold in this new event.
Playing field
The promoting organisation shall be responsible for the correct measurements and markings of the field of play and shall provide all stipulated fixtures and equipment.
In a game officiated by one referee, the referee shall officiate on the same side as the official table, and the goal judges shall be situated on the opposite side.
The distance between the goal lines shall be not less than 20 metres and not more than 30 metres for games played by men. The distance between the goal lines shall be not less than 20 metres and not more than 25 metres for games played by women. The width of the field of play shall be not less than 10 metres and not more than 20 metres. The boundary of the field of play at each end shall be 0.30 metres behind the goal line.
Distinctive marks shall be provided on both sides of the field of play to denote the following:
(a) white marks - goal line and half distance line
(b) red marks - 2 metres from goal lines
(c) yellow marks - 5 metres from goal lines
The sides of the field of play from the goal line to the 2 metre line shall be marked in red; from the 2 metre line to the 5 metre line shall be marked in yellow and from the 5 metre line to the half distance line shall be marked in green.
A red mark shall be placed at each end of the field of play, 2 metres from the corner of the field of play on the side opposite to the official table, to denote the re-entry area.
Sufficient space shall be provided to enable the referees to have free movement from end to end of the field of play. Space shall also be provided at the goal lines for the goal judges.
The secretary shall be provided with separate red, white and blue flags, each measuring 0.35 metres x 0.20 metres.
Rules
The competition shall be between a maximum of eight teams selected in the following
manner: automatically the first three teams from the preceding World Championships and one team from the Continental Championships of the five continents. The Host Country will be the
representative of that continent. If a vacancy occurs, it shall be filled by the next highest ranked teams
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