Sports Glossaries
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advantage rule

A rule that a referee should refrain from calling a foul if the call would be to the advantage of the offender's team.

attacking team

The team that has control of the ball. In the case of a free ball, the team that last had possession. Opposite of defensive team.

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backhand

A shot or pass that's flipped backward, over the shoulder or head.

ball

The ball used in water polo is a pressurized sphere weighing 400 to 450 grams. For men's play, it is .68 to .71 meters in circumference and inflated to 13-14 pounds of pressure. For women's play, it is .65 to .78 meters in circumference and inflated to 12-13 pounds of pressure.

ball under

A foul committed when a player for takes or holds the ball underwater while being tackled by an opponent.

brutality

An exclusion foul called for very rough play, such as punching or kicking an opponent or official.

bunny

A goal scored on a hard shot close to the goalkeeper's head. Also called a donut.

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cap

Each player wears a cap, numbered 1 to 13, with the goalkeeper wearing No. 1. Team caps are of contrasting colors, typically white for one team and blue for the other. Goalkeepers wear red caps.

center-back

A defensive player whose main job is to cover the opposition's center-forward.

center-forward

A team's chief attacking player, who is usually positioned directly in front of the opponent's goal between the two-meter and four-meter lines. Also called the hole man, hole set, or two-meter man.

control of the ball

When not touching it, a player is considered in control of the ball if it is on the water in front of the horizontal plane of his or her shoulders.

corner throw

A free throw awarded to the attacking team if a defensive player touched the ball last before it went out over the goal line. It's taken from the two-meter line on the side nearest the spot where the ball went out of bounds.

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dead time

The time when the ball is dead, between the whistle for a foul and the restarting of play and the clock. Compare live time.

dead-time foul

Any foul that's committed during dead time.

defensive team

The team that does not have control of the ball; opposite of attacking team.

donut

Same as bunny.

double foul

Simultaneous fouls by players on opposing teams.

double hole

Descriptive of an of an offense that stations an attacker in front of each post of the goal; also known as double post.

double post

Same as double hole.

dribble

To swim with the ball, usually while it rides on the wake in front of the swimmer.

drive

A quick move to the area in front of the goal by an offensive player who does not have the ball. As a verb, to make such a move.

drop

A defense in which players drop back to protect the center of the pool and attempt to block passes and shots.

dry pass

A pass that can be caught above the water.

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eggbeater

An alternating leg kick used to tread water and lift much of the torso out of the water.

exclusion area

An area outside the field of play where a player must wait after an exclusion foul.

exclusion foul

A foul that results in the offending player being sent to the exclusion area for 20 seconds or until the opposing team has scored a goal. Exclusion fouls include: Interfering with a corner throw, free throw, or goal throw; holding, pulling, or sinking an opponent who is not holding the ball; intentionally kicking or striking an opponent; committing any act of brutality; and intentionally splashing water in an opponent's face. After an exclusion foul, the opposing team is awarded a free throw at the spot of the foul.

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face off

See neutral throw.

field

The water polo field is 20 to 30 meters between the goal lines and 10 to 20 meters wide. There are white buoys on each side of the pool to indicate the goal lines and the half-distance line. At each end of the pool, there are colored buoys denoting the 2-meter lines (red), 4-meter lines (yellow), and 7-meter lines (green). Water depth is a minimum of 1.8 meters, but 2 meters is the preferred depth. The playing area extends a minimum of .3 meters behind the goal lines at each end of the pool. See also goal.

field player

Any player except a goalkeeper.

four-meter foul

A foul by a defensive player inside the four-meter line directly aimed at preventing a goal. The opposing team is awarded a penalty throw.

four-meter line

An imaginary line extending across the pool, four meters from each goal line.

free throw

When play has to be restarted after the ball crosses a sideline or after a foul that does not result in a penalty throw, a free throw is used. The player awarded the free throw may throw the ball or drop it into the water and dribble it before passing. At least two players, from either side, must touch the ball before a goal can be scored.

front

To defend between the center forward and the player with the ball.

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game

A water polo game consists of four periods of 7 minutes each, with a 2-minute interval between periods. If the score is tied after the fourth period, there are two overtime periods of three minutes each, with a 1-minute interval. If the score is still tied, a penalty shootout is used to determine the outcome.

goal

1) The water polo goal is made of two goal posts and a crossbar, from which a net is suspended. The goal posts are 3 meters apart and the crossbar is .9 meters above the water surface. 2) A score, which is made by throwing or dribbling the ball so that it goes completely across the goal line, between the posts and under the crossbar.

goal judge

There are two goal judges, one positioned on a side of the pool at each goal line. The goal judge's chief responsibility is to determine whether a goal has been scored and, if so, to signal the score by raising and crossing both arms.

goal line

An imaginary line that extends across the pool at the mouth of the goal. The playing area extends at least .3 meter behind the goal line.

goal throw

A throw taken by the defending goalkeeper from behind the two-meter line to restart play if an attacking player was the last to touch the ball before it went out over the goal line.

goalkeeper

Each team has a goalkeeper, who must remain behind the half-distance line. The goalkeeper alone is allowed to stand or walk on the floor of the pool, to jump from the floor of the pool, to use both hands on the ball, and to punch the ball.

greenie

A quick shot taken by a player after receiving a pass near the goal. Originally "guerrini."

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half-distance line

An imaginary line, marked by white buoys, that divides the field of play into two equal ends.

hold

To lift or carry the ball, place the hand over or under it, or press it beneath the water.

hole guard

The defensive player who takes a position in front of his or her own goal in order to guard the opposing center forward.

hole man

See center forward.

hole set

See center forward.

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impeding

Hindering the movement of an opposing player who does not have possession of the ball.

inside water

The position of an attacking player who is in front of a defender and moving toward the goal.

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lane press

A defense in which players are positioned in passing lanes, between the ball and the players they are guarding, rather than between the offensive players and the goal.

live time

A period when the clock is running. Compare dead time.

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man-down

Descriptive of the 20-second period when the defensive team is one player short because of an exclusion foul.

man-up

Descriptive of the 20-second period when the offensive team has one player more than the defensive team because of an exclusion foul.

moving pick

A move in which an offensive player swims in front of a player defending another offensive player, freeing that teammate to receive a pass or take a shot.

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natural goal

A goal scored from open play with both teams at full strength. Excludes goals made on penalty shots or when a team is a man up.

neutral throw

A throw by a referee that gives each team an equal chance to reach the ball. A neutral throw is most often used after a double foul.

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ordinary foul

An infringement that usually results in a free throw for the opposing team. Ordinary fouls include taking the ball underwater when tackled; playing the ball while standing or walking on the bottom of the pool; jumping from the bottom of the pool; hitting the ball with the fist; playing the ball with both hands at the same time; and deliberately impeding an opponent who doesn't have the ball.

outlet

A pass from the goalkeeper to a teammate to begin a counterattack after a save.

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penalty foul

A foul that results in a penalty throw for the opposing team. Penalty fouls include: A foul committed by a defending player behind the four-meter line that is judged to have prevented a goal from being scored; an act of brutality behind the four-meter line; or pulling the goal over with the object of preventing a score.

penalty shootout

If a game is tied after two overtime periods, a penalty shootout determines the result. Each team gets five penalty throws, which are taken in alternation. Each penalty throw is taken by a different team member. If the score remains tied after the round of penalty throws, the teams alternate shots until one team scores and the other misses.

penalty shot

See penalty throw.

penalty throw

A throw taken from the four-meter line by a member of the attacking team, with the goalkeeper as the only defender.

personal foul

An exclusion foul or penalty foul. If a player commits three personal fouls, he or she is permanently excluded from the game.

point

The offensive position farthest from the goal and approximately straight out from the goal.

press

A defense that's extended beyond its normal range, designed to pressure offensive players into poor passes or shots.

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referee

In major matches, there are two referees, one on each side of the pool. One is called the attacking or offensive referee, when the goal to his or her right is being attacked. The other, the defensive referee, remains at least as far back as the attacking player who is farthest from the goal. Referees together are responsible for calling fouls and declaring penalties.

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seven-meter line

An imaginary line extending across the pool, seven meters from each goal line.

shootout

See penalty shootout.

shot clock

A clock which displays the time remaining for a team to take a shot. Also known as possession clock.

sink

To push an opposing player under the water.

splashing

Deliberately splashing water in an opponent's face is an exclusion foul.

sprint

See swim-off.

stalling

Failing to shoot or advance the ball within 35 seconds. An ordinary foul.

stationary pick

A move in which an offensive player stops in front of a player who is defending another offensive player, freeing that teammate to receive a pass or take a shot.

strong side

The side of the pool on which the ball is located.

swim-off

The method of starting a period. Players take up positions on their own goal lines. A referee then blows the whistle, tosses the ball into the center of the pool, and the players race for it. Also called a sprint.

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team

A team is made up of seven players, including a goalkeeper, and a maximum of six substitutes.

two-meter line

An imaginary line extending across the pool, two meters from each goal line.

two-meter man

See center forward.

two-meter violation

An ordinary foul called when a player is inside the opponent's two-meter line and is not behind the line of the ball.

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weak side

The side of the pool opposite the side on which the ball is located.

wet pass

A pass thrown so that it lands in the water.

wet shot

A shot attempted by a player who is controlling the ball in the water; usually a quick wrist shot.

wing

An area near the sideline.

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zone

A defense in which players are assigned to defend an area, rather than a specific opposing player.

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