Love for Water Polo- an underappreciated sport.
Water Polo- First thing that comes to our mind when we hear the word is swimmers in their speedo’s playing a combination of basketball and football but slower, Does anyone realize how hard it is to play the game? — probably not.
Water polo is such a tough sport to play that not any average guy can go play the game like basketball, softball, or even football. I should know this as I have tried all three of the above mentioned games but water polo was tough for me (Not knowing swimming properly was the biggest hindrance, but still!!).
It might not be a popular sport so let me give you the basics.
Water polo is a combination of swimming, basketball, football and rugby.
For anyone to say these athletes aren’t some of the best, and for the sport to get little coverage is a shame. Swimmers are mostly in a very good shape, add water polo and you get a proper athlete.
Water Polo may be one of the few sports where you have to be an athlete to even compete. (This will surely boost the egos of some people I know).
Before you go off the deep end and tell me how wrong I am, hear me out. If water polo players are such good athletes (they are), then why does Water Polo get no love? I’ve seen equestrian on T.V. more than water polo during the Olympics. (Mind you, Equestrian is boooring.)
I think one of the reasons why Water polo is getting no love is because no one understands the hard work which is going on underwater and feel that is why it does not attract much TV audience and there is a lack of excitement. Most of the sports have the audience able to watch each and every minute move a player makes. (maybe underwater cameras are the solution for this,maybe)
I cannot tell you how wrong these assumptions are.
Water polo is completely different. The athletes are swimming in 20 feet of water, when they aren’t swimming they are staying afloat by egg-beating (kicking their legs in the motion of an egg-beater) and they toss a ball around.
Next, add getting kicked repeatedly, a clouded field of vision with water splashing everywhere and some other person hanging on top of you trying to dunk you under water if they can get away with it.
After all this you have to grab the ball, pass it or shoot it.
Let me tell you, that stuff is hard.
Some of the qualities that an average water polo player needs to have are similar to that of US Navy SEALS.
- Very strong swimmers, as comfortable moving around, in and under water as on land.
- Good hand-eye coordination; in water polo because it’s a ball sport that involves lots of quick catching and throwing with one hand (you aren’t allowed to touch the ball with both hands).
- Top cardiovascular condition. Running in soft sand, swimming whilst wearing bulky clothes and shoes, and long sets of egg-beatering with your hands above your shoulders out of the water (possibly holding a weight) are all features of water polo training.
- Extremely strong legs and core— honed over the course of many painful “pyramid sets” of holding a medicine ball over your head while egg-beater kicking in the water.
- An appetite for aggressiveness. There are many drills in polo that consist of little more than keeping your head above water while your teammate(s) push you under the surface.
- Communication and excellent decision making ability — this is also a very crucial factor in the game play as it is a team sport and every player needs the support from the teammates.
If we judge by the number of national teams at the Olympics or the World Cup that each continent gives the sport is certainly popular in Europe, followed by North America, Australia and Asia. We are yet to see a team from Africa or South America qualify for any major competition.
Hope to see Indian team in the top competitions soon!!
