How do you play water polo?

Can somebody give me a detailed explanation on how to play water polo?

• I am in high school and on newspaper and I have to write an article on water polo, but I want to have a background on the game before I start interviewing people. I know how to play soccer so is it anything similar to that? I would like to know as much about water polo as I can. Thanks!

• Answer:

  Well, some people say it's like basketball. I think it's more like soccer. There are two teams, each with a goal and a goalie. Each team has 6 players, and a goalie. One goal is on one side of the pool, the other on the other. Each game is four quarters, each being 6 minutes long JV and 7 minutes for Varsity. At the start, each team lines up in the pool, at the 2 meter mark, usually a red square on the wall of the pool. The 6 players line up on their side of the pool, with their goalie in front of their goal. The referee blows his whistle and the teams swim towards the center of the pool. Each team has one "sprinter." He swims as fast as he can to the center, but close to the wall. The ball is put in the half mark, usually a white square, and the sprinter who gets to it first gives it to the "trailer" on his team. The trailer swims next to him, but farther from the wall. He tries to get the ball to another player on his team, which may be the sprinter. Then, depending on what team gets the ball, everyone(except the goalies) goes towards one half of the pool. The team with the ball is on offense and they try to score a goal. The defensive team may commit a foul. There are usually LOTS of fouls during the game. When the ref blows his whistle once that meant there was a foul. The player who committed the fowl must back off the guy he was defending for a few seconds, and the offender has a free pass. He can shoot the ball and try to make a goal, but only if he is past the 5 meter mark, usually a yellow square. If a goal is made, the clock is stopped and the teams line up at the half. The team who made the goal is now on defense and the other team now tries to make a goal at the other goal. If the defending team happens to get the ball from the offending team, there is turnover. That is signaled by a double whistle. They would then go and try to make a goal. A foul is usually when a player pushes a another player down, or gets his hands on his shoulders. A kick-out (a major foul, player is kicked out for 20 seconds) is usually when a player swims over another player. It's kinda hard to explain fouls and kick-outs like this, so maybe just ask someone in person. I'm sure it'll be easier then. And watch the game. I don't see why you wouldn't, but you should. At the end of a quarter, the teams go to their corners. When the next quarter starts, the repeat the entire process, starting from the 2 meter. At half time, the teams switch sides. Home usually wears dark caps, while Guests usually wear white caps. Team with the most points at the end wins. Games usually last about an hour, but sometimes they're two or less. I hope I helped! And I know it's alot, but I don't think I put anything useless in there