Water Polo Canada

Website Links

Description

The origins of water polo can be traced to east India, where British army officers experimented with the "pulu" ball game on horseback. From there, polo was brought to Europe and was played as rugby and finally as football in the water to become water polo "“ and was practised in rivers and lakes. Originally, a pig's stomach bladder was used as the ball, but as this burst easily, it was soon replaced by a rubber ball. In 1870, the London Swimming Club drew up the first rules for this football game in the water. They accepted brute strength. Dunking opponents was permitted, as well as diving with the ball and carrying it under the swimsuit in murky water towards the goal. A goal was scored by putting the ball in the goal with both hands, or in a boat or the full width of the pontoon. The goalkeeper stayed out of the water and jumped in when a player from the opposing team approached to score. Slowly, by trial and error, more appropriate rules were found. However, it was not until 1884 that the Swimming Association of Great Britain recognized the game as coming under its jurisdiction. By 1880 in Scotland, the introduction of the Trudgeon stroke permitted rule changes to make the game faster, and brute strength was replaced by more technique, speed and tactical moves. The game changed from a rugby style to a soccer style of play. The goal became a cage of ten feet by three, and a goal could be scored by throwing a ball. A leather ball replaced the smaller rubber ball. Players could only be tackled if they held the ball, and the ball could be touched with only one hand at a time. The number of players in each team was finally settled at seven. In the late 1880's these Scottish rules were generally adopted throughout England, after a four-member committee had been appointed in 1888, to revise the rules and submit a report to the London Water Polo League founded in 1889. Also, in 1888, the first national English Championship was contested. In 1890, the league included London and parts of southern and middle England. In the same year, this league played the first international game against Scotland and lost 4-0. The USA became the next country to adopt water polo in 1888 when John Robinson, a British swimming instructor, organized a team at the Boston Athletic Association. Two years later, more teams started playing in Providence, Rhode Island and New York. The American Teams played the old English style but with their own characteristics "“ a game of close formation and fierce scrimmages. The ball could be taken under water and held with two hands. Players grabbed each other where they chose, becoming locked in wrestling grips. It was about the survival of the fittest. By the 1890s, water polo was one of the most popular spectator sports in America, in addition to international status in Hungary (1889), Belgium (1890), Austria and Germany (1884) and France (1895). In 1900, it became a part of the Olympic program where the British Teams won the Olympic Tournaments in 1900, 1908, 1912 and 1920. In the 1900's, it was reported to have been played in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the US and India.

Products & services

Similar companies nearby