Underwater Shenanigans

What happens underwater, stays underwater.

On the surface, water polo is a bit like a friendly game of soccer. Underneath, the part that you don’t see, water polo is more like a violent game of rugby. Of course, it all depends on who you compete against, but water polo has always been played with the understanding that everything is legal, just as long as you don’t get caught.

Of course, there are limits to this unwritten rule, and precautions are taken to ensure that no serious injuries occur. Nail checks are required before play, and the game officials will often call a foul on an overly physical player.

However, if you are a fairly decent player, resorting to cheap tricks is usually frowned upon. If you’ve got the skill to legitimately weave your way to the goal, why use aggressiveness when dexterity can get you there easier? That’s my take on it, but I have to admit, every water polo player has a physical side.

It does have its advantage.

When you’ve been playing for a couple years, you get used to the typical minor injuries and indignities (getting your suit unzipped) that typically amount to an annoyance during the game. Everyone ends up with a couple scratches on a good day, possibly a bruise and some rug burn from their suits — the consequence of buying suits that are two sizes smaller than normal.

On a bad day, we’ve had everything from bloody noses to broken fingers, lots of scratches, and torn suits. The "real" play occurs under the water.

Hey, if you’re trying to get somewhere, and there’s a player from the other team ahead of you, it’s a nice gesture for them to “volunteer” their suit as a handhold to propel yourself forward. The physicality in water polo is meant to be strategic.

It is important for players to be responsible for their actions, and not do anything that their best friend wouldn’t forgive them for, eventually. Aggression has a time and place. To be a competitive water polo player, you have to be physical to be good.

It also has its limits, and as much as water polo has a rap for being the
most violent sport around, if you play it smart, it’s easy to overcome underhanded moves, kick some butt, and avoid undue injury in the process.