Water Polo Tips for the Fan

Like any sport, water polo is confusing to watch if you never played it yourself. As a former water polo player and coach, I know that there is not a good general understanding of the sport by family members of players, or other fans. Here are a few things you can do to learn more about the game.

1. Read about the game. Here are a few sites you should visit to learn more about the game:
Spectator's Guide to Water Polo: Pappas' guides are a great resource for the fan!
Wikipedia: Good wiki community writeup on the sport
SportSpectator Fan's Guide to Water Polo: Our 10-minute guide to the game.
USA Water Polo's Kid Zone: I know it sounds funny, but this is a decent place to learn.

2. Watch a game with a player (current or former). At a tournament, there is plenty of time to watch games with coaches or players. Watch a competitor's game while you have a break. Also, at high school games, there are usually multiple levels (frosh soph, j.v., varsity) that play on the same day. Come early or stay late and watch the game with someone who can answer your questions.

3. Watch a televised game. Watching a game with the professional commentators will help you pick up the lingo. Olympic games only occer every 4 years, but you may be able to find an archive tape. Additionally, the men's and women's national championship games are televised on CSTV each year.

4. Ask questions. If you have a question, don't be afraid to ask. Good resources are coaches or players. You can ask them in person, or try an online forum, or contact us and we'll try to help you out.