How dangerous is water polo?

Asked by: Juliet Lewis

Head injuries and concussions can occur in water polo due to the contact nature of the sport. Goalies are at an increased risk of concussion. Although not common, eye injuries such as lacerations and corneal abrasions, and dental injuries can occur when players collide or a player is struck with the ball.

Why is water polo so dangerous?

With a majority of their bodies underwater, and lots of splashing to reduce visibility for the referees, players are prone to kicking or hitting beneath the surface. “With all these big bodies banging into each other, all the clutching and grabbing under the water, you have to stay close or you risk getting injured.

Can you drown someone in water polo?

Broken noses, scratched eyeballs, perforated eardrums, and concussions definitely happen, all of which can be super dangerous because, well, you’re in a pool and could drown if you’re unable to swim (source). So, yeah, preventative care is crucial. Many serious water polo injuries, however, are actually non-contact.

Is water polo a violent sport?

As savage as water polo appears to spectators, Benson pointed out that even though “gamesmanship and protecting yourself and your teammates is very important, violence has no place in the sport.”

Has anyone ever drowned in a water polo game?

Officials are saying that a 19-year-old UC Santa Barbara water polo player who was found unresponsive at the bottom of a pool during practice died of an accidental drowning.

Can you punch in water polo?

One of the most serious fouls that a player can commit during a game of water polo is called brutality, and it involves acts such as intentionally punching another player. Players who are caught intentionally throwing punches are removed from the game completely, but it doesn’t stop them from doing so.

Are water polo players strong?

Water polo requires strong swimming skills, mostly freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke. While having great turns, starts and streamlines isn’t required having speed, power and endurance is.

Do water polo players touch bottom?

They are not allowed to touch the bottom of the pool and must tread water the entire time – although players use a movement called the egg-beater which is more efficient than the normal action of treading water. Players can move the ball by throwing it to a teammate or swimming while pushing the ball in front of them.

How deep is the water in water polo?

6.5 feet

Water polo is a rough and demanding sport. The minimum depth of the pool is 2 metres (6.5 feet). The pool is 30 metres (98 feet) long between goals, and 20 metres (65 feet) wide. The width between goalposts is 3 metres (9.8 feet), the crossbar being at least 0.9 metre (3 feet) above the surface of the water.

Why are Goggles not allowed in water polo?

As water polo is a full contact sport, elbows are often thrown while players jockey for possession of the ball. If a player were wearing goggles while getting hit in the face, they could be subject to a serious eye injury.

How deep is the water polo pool in the Olympics?

around 6.5ft

Water polo is one of the longest running sports at the games and the men’s competition has been part of the Olympics since 1900, with the women’s tournament only starting at Sydney 2000. The sport is played in a pool that is two-metres, around 6.5ft, deep and a player’s feet must not touch the bottom.

Can you dunk in water polo?

Water polo is a contact sport. What physical moves are not permitted to occur? When a player is not in possession of the ball, it is not permitted to excessively hold, dunk, or prevent the attacking player from swimming. A player in a scoring position with possession of the ball may not be dunked, pulled back, or held.

Why does water polo cover ears?

The caps are used to identify both the player and their team, and to protect their ears from injury possibly caused by a water polo ball hitting the head.

What is a penalty in water polo?

A penalty foul is awarded when a player commits any kind of a foul in the penalty area (inside the 5m line) that, in the opinion of the referee, prevented a probable goal. This is most commonly awarded in situations where the attacker turns or gets inside the defenders and is fouled from behind.

What is egg beater in water polo?

The eggbeater kick is a style of kicking where the swimmer’s legs alternate one-legged breaststroke kicks. This form provides continuous support because there is no break in the kick, and allows the swimmer to remain stable in the water without swaying.

Why do water polo players wear Speedos?

Some players occasionally wear two speedos

This is to prevent possible public exposure. It is not unheard of for a speedo to be ripped off under the water, so a player can never be too careful.

Why are water polo suits so high cut?

But the women have to rely on design: that means extra-durable fabric, as well as a solid back in place of regular straps. Most of them will also wear a suit 2-3 times smaller than normal to make it even tougher for their opponent to get their hands under the edges. Even then, the suits still cop a beating.

How fit do you need to be to play water polo?

Players need to have a very high aerobic fitness, they need to be strong swimmers, capable of fast short bursts of activity, and able to repeat these high intensity activities with minimal rest. Players are also generally very tall and have a long arm reach.

Do water polo players shave?

National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules for swimming, diving and water polo stipulate that athletes can not shave before, during or after a meet once a team is on-site.

In which Olympic sport are beards prohibited?

Wrestling. In what appears to be a testament to the decisiveness typically required in sports, wrestlers must either be closely shaven or have a beard that has been grown for several months with no in-between. The reasoning is that short stubble may irritate an opponent’s skin.

Do water polo players shave their chests?

In short- Elite level competitive swimmers usually shave their entire body before a big swimming competition. This includes their legs, arms, trunk, chest, and even their back. This, however, isn’t necessary for your average competitive swimmer. Shaving your legs and arms will be more than enough.

Do you have to shave to be on the swim team?

Many swimmers shave prior to a meet to gain a competitive edge in the water, but the NFHS’s rule is meant as a health and safety precaution, limiting the likelihood of blood transmission or of team members sharing razors.

Why do swimmers slap themselves?

Also part of an athlete’s race routine, it’s something that gets an athlete ready to go. Male swimmers sometimes slap themselves red, especially on their pectorals. Women will also do this or use a closed fist instead. This slapping increases blood flow in the muscles which is helpful to the “warmup” process.

Why are swimmers hairless?

It has been proven that shaving the arms, legs, back and pretty much any other part of the body exposed to the water reduces frictional drag, improves streamline and heightens the swimmer’s awareness and feel for the water (more on that in a second). It’s also very common for cyclists and triathletes to shave.

Do female swimmers shave their arms?

It is a strange ritual, peculiar–but also essential–to swimming. For six-month periods, female swimmers refrain from shaving their legs. Then, when they do shave, they are joined by male counterparts who not only shave their legs, but arms, chests, backs and, in extreme cases, heads.

Do swimmers pee in pools?

U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps even confessed back in 2012 that peeing in the pool is an acceptable thing to do. “I think everybody pees in the pool,” Phelps told the Wall Street Journal. “It’s kind of a normal thing to do for swimmers. When we’re in the pool for two hours, we don’t really get out to pee.

Why do swimmers wear 2 caps?

The first one is used to cover their hair, as latex clings to the head better. The second silicone one doesn’t crinkle as much as latex, so it smooths any lingering bumpiness on the head. Without the second cap, there is more drag in the water because the first one could wrinkle.