Water Polo in Indoor swimming pools

THE present game of water polo and the various similar water games which preceded it came about as a result of the building of indoor swimming pools. Among the first of these were the “swimming baths” opened in 1820 in Paris which were restricted to use by women. Soon swimming pools were found in many places on the Continent and were growing more popular in England and Scotland. Efforts to relieve the monotony of swimming competition events led to the development of a water game which absorbed many of the elements of soccer and hockey.

Origins

In its first form, the game of “water soccer” was played at different pools under what would be considered “local” rules. In 1870, a committee of British swimming experts met to formalize rules for water soccer. After several years of confusion about the game, the Bournemouth Rowing Club staged what was probably the first formal water-polo match in 1876. With 7 members to a team, the game was played within a marked-off area under control of a referee and 2 goal judges. A goal was scored by placing the ball on a raft at the end of the playing area. However, contemporary reports indicate that this game was never completed, as the rubber ball which was used burst and brought all action to a halt.

The first set of recognized rules for the game of water polo were prepared by a Scotsman named Wilson in Glasgow in the late 187O’s. By 1880, series of matches were being played among British and Scottish teams, although Wilson’s rules received varying interpretations at different pools. Finally in 1885, the English Swimming Association officially recognized water polo as a separate branch of aquatic sport and ordered the universal acceptance of the rules which it adopted. The 1885 rules consisted of 11 points:

1. Duration of game-20 minutes.
2. Captains to agree or toss for choice of goals.
3. At start of play, referee throws ball into center of course. All players then enter water immediately except the 2 goalkeepers. Goalkeepers may remain out of water and defend goal as they think best.
4. Ball may be passed from one player to another, and carried either on or below the surface of the water to goal.
5. No player may interfere with goalkeeper either in or out of the water, or hold opponents in any way, unless goalkeeper or opponent is in possession of ball. In case of violation of this rule, a free throw is given to opposing team from place where foul occurred.
6. A goal is obtained by ball being taken up by hand and placed fairly on floating stage or boat provided for that purpose.
7. If ball goes “offside” during play, the referee must immediately return it to play; if it goes out over or on floating stage or boat, it must immediately be taken up and thrown into play by goalkeeper on the stage or boat.
8. Umpires, or one of them, shall blow whistle immediately after a goal has been scored, and play shall stop at that moment.
9. Teams shall change goals at half time.
10. Any competitor who withdraws from a match or fails to participate in a match for which he has been engaged, forfeits all prizes he may have already won at this meeting, as well as any he may afterwards become entitled to in connection with the same match.
11. Power is given to umpires, or in case of their disagreement to referee, to decide all circumstances not provided for by these rules.

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