Water Polo History & Olympic Water Polo Tickets

The history of water polo as a team sport began as a demonstration of strength and swimming skill in late 19th century England and Scotland, where water sports and racing exhibitions was a feature of county fairs and festivals. Men's water polo was among the first team sports introduced at the modern Olympic games in 1900. Water polo is now popular in many countries around the world, notably Europe, United States, Canada and Australia. The present-day game involves teams of seven players (plus up to six substitutes), with a water polo ball similar in size to a soccer ball but constructed of waterproof nylon. William Wilson, Scottish aquatics pioneer and originator of the first rules of water polo.

The rules of water polo were originally developed in the late nineteenth century in Great Britain by William Wilson. Wilson is believed to have been the First Baths Master of the Arlington Baths Club in Glasgow. The first games of 'aquatic football' were played at the Arlington in the late 1800s (the Club was founded in 1870), with a ball constructed of India rubber. This "water rugby" came to be called "water polo" based on the English pronunciation of the Balti word for ball, pulu. Early play allowed brute strength, wrestling and holding opposing players underwater to recover the ball; the goalie stood outside the playing area and defended the goal by jumping in on any opponent attempting to score by placing the ball on the deck.

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Water Polo Goalkeeper and Olympic Water Polo Tickets

The goalkeeper is generally one of the more challenging positions not only in the sport of water polo, but in any sport. A goalie has to be able to jump out of the water, using little more than one's core and legs, and hold the vertical position without sinking into the water, all while tracking and anticipating a shot. The goal is 2.8 m2 in face area; the goalie should also be a master of fast, effective lateral movement in the water as well as lightning fast lunges out of the water to block a shot. Another key job that the goalkeeper is responsible for is guiding and informing his or her defense of imposing threats and gaps in the defense, and making helpful observations to identify a gap in the defense that the defenders may or cannot see. The goalkeeper is also the "quarterback", as he or she usually begins the offensive play. It is not unusual for a goalie to make the assisting pass to a goal on a breakaway.

In general, a foul that would cause an ejection of a field player might only bring on a five meter shot on the goalie. The goalkeeper also has one limitation that other players do not have: he or she cannot cross the half-distance line. Also, if a goalie pushes the ball under water, it is not a turnover like with field players. It is a penalty shot, also called a 5 meter shot, or simply, a "5 meter".

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Water Polo Defense Strategy and Olympic Water Polo Tickets

There are seven players in the water from each team at one time. There are six players that play out and one goalkeeper. Unlike most common team sports, there is little positional play; field players will often fill several positions throughout the game as situations demand. These positions consist of the center or hole set, the point that also usually plays center back or hole defender, the two wings and the two flats. Players who are skilled in all of these positions on offensive or defensive are called utility players. Utility players tend to come off of the bench, though this is not absolute. Certain body types are more suited for particular positions, and left handed players are especially coveted on the right-hand side of the field, allowing teams to launch 2 sided attacks.

Defensive positions are often the same positional, but just switched from offense to defense. For example, the center forward or hole set, who directs the attack on offense, on defense is known as "hole D" also known as set guard, hole guard, hole check, pit defense or two-meter defense and guards the opposing team's center forward. Defense can be played man to man or in zones, such as a 2–4 four defenders along the goal line. It can also be played as a combination of the two in what is known as an "M drop" defense, in which the point defender moves away "sloughs off" his man into a zone in order to better defend the center position. In this defense, the two wing defenders split the area furthest from the goal, allowing them a clearer lane for the counter attack if their team recovers the ball.

On defense, the players work to regain possession of the ball and to prevent a goal in their own net. The defense attempts to knock away or steal the ball from the offense or to commit a foul in order to stop an offensive player from taking a goal shot. The defender attempts to stay between the attacker and the goal, a position known as inside water. You can also buy Olympic Water Polo Tickets for Olympic Games 2012, London. Global Ticket Market offers you all sorts of Olympic Tickets. Any type of Olympic Tickets including Olympic Water Polo Tickets is available at Global Ticket Market easily, securely and at very cheap rates.

Water Polo Offense Strategy and Olympic Water Polo Tickets

At the start of each period, teams line up on their own goal line. Three players go to both sides of the goal; the goalkeeper starts in the goal. At the referee's whistle, both teams swim to midpoint of the field known as the sprint or the swim off; the referee drops the ball near the side of the pool in American water polo. In International competition the ball is placed in the middle of the pool and is supported with a floating ring. The first team to recover the ball becomes the attacker until a goal is scored or the defenders recover the ball. After a goal is scored, the teams line up anywhere within their halves of play, but usually along the midpoint of the pool. Play resumes when the team not scoring the goal puts the ball in play by passing it backwards to a teammate.

When the offense takes possession of the ball, the strategy is to advance the ball down the field of play and to score a goal. Players can move the ball by throwing it to a teammate or swimming with the ball in front of them "dribbling". If an attacker uses his arm to push away a defending player and free up space for a pass or shot, the referee will rule a turnover and the defense will take possession of the ball. If an attacker advances inside the 2-meter line without the ball or before the ball is inside the 2-meter area, he is ruled off side and the ball is turned over to the defense. This is often overlooked if the attacker is well to the side of the pool or when the ball is at the other side of the pool.

The key to the offense is to accurately pass or "set" the ball into the center forward or hole set, positioned directly in front of the goal “the hole”. Any field player may throw the hole set a "wet pass." A wet pass is one that hits the water just outside of the hole set's reach. A dry pass may also be used. This is where the hole set receives the ball directly in his hand and then attempts a shot at the cage. This pass is much more difficult because if the pass is not properly caught, the officials will be likely to call an offensive foul resulting in a change of ball possession. The hole set attempts to take possession of the ball, to shoot at the goal, or to draw a foul from his defender. A minor foul is called if his defender called the "hole D" attempts to impede movement before the hole set has possession. The referee indicates the foul with one short whistle blow and point’s one hand to the spot of the foul and the other hand in the direction of the attack of the team to whom the free throw has been awarded. The hole set then has a "reasonable amount of time" typically about three seconds to recommence play by making a free pass to one of the other players. The defensive team cannot hinder the hole set until the free throw has been taken, but the hole set cannot shoot a goal once the foul has been awarded until the ball has been played by at least one other player. If the hole set attempts a goal without the free throw, the goal is not counted and the defense takes possession of the ball, unless the shot is made outside the 5 meter line. As soon as the hole set has a free pass, the other attacking players attempt to swim or drive away from their defenders towards the goal. The players at the flat position will attempt to set a screen also known as a pick for the driver. If a driver gets free from a defender, the player calls for the pass from the hole set and attempts a shot at the goal.

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Water Polo Fouls and Olympic Water Polo Tickets

Ordinary fouls occur when a player impedes or otherwise prevents the free movement of an opponent who is not holding the ball. The most common is when a player reaches over the shoulder of an opponent in order to knock the ball away while in the process hindering the opponent. Offensive players may be called for a foul by pushing off a defender to provide space for a pass or shot.

The referee indicates the foul with one short whistle blow and points one hand in the direction of the attacking team standing roughly in line with the position of the foul, which retain possession. The attacker must make a free pass without undue delay to another offensive player. If the foul has been committed outside the 5 meter line, the offensive player may also attempt a direct shot on goal, but the shot must be taken immediately and in one continuous motion. Because of this rule the hole set will often set up at or beyond the five meter mark hoping to get a foul, shoot, and score. If the offensive player fakes a shot and then shoots the ball, it is considered a turnover. If the same defender repetitively makes minor fouls, referees will exclude that player for 20 seconds. To avoid an ejection, the hole defender may foul twice, and then have a wing defender switch with him so that the defense can continue to foul the hole man without provoking an exclusion foul. The rule was altered to allow repeated fouls without exclusions, but is often still enforced by referees.

Exclusion fouls are committed when the defensive player holds sinks or pulls back the offensive player away from the ball before the offensive player has had a chance to take possession of the ball. This includes dunking, intentional splashing, pulling back, and swimming on the other player's back, stopping the other player from swimming or otherwise preventing the offensive player from preserving his advantage. A referee signals a major foul by two short whistle bursts and indicates that the player must leave the field of play and move to the penalty area for twenty seconds. The referee will first point to the player who commits the foul and will blow the whistle, and then they will point to the ejection corner and blow the whistle again. The player must move to the penalty area without impacting the natural game play. If the player does not leave the field of play, the player will be kicked out for the remaining time of the game with substitution. The remaining five defenders, to cover the six attackers on a man up situation, usually set up in a zone defense in front of their goal. The attacking team can expect to score, by adopting a 4–2 or 3–3 formation, and moving the goalkeeper out of position. A player that has been ejected three times must sit out the whole match with substitution, much like the six personal fouls in basketball.

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Water Polo Arena and Olympic Water Polo Tickets

The temporary 5000 seated venue distinguishable by its silver wrap and an inflatable roof made from recyclable plastic   will be built by a raft of firms from across the UK, the Olympic Delivery Authority announced today.

The wedge shaped Arena, which rises from 12m to 25m, will contain a 37meter long competition pool and a warm-up pool. It will stage the men's and women's water Polo competitions. After the Games, the venue will be taken down, with elements reused elsewhere in the UK, including incorporating materials available through the rental market to promote reuse and reduce construction waste. "The start of work on the water polo arena, one of the last venues to be built on the Olympic Park, shows how far we have come since construction started in 2008," said ODA project sponsor Ian Crock ford. "The venue will join the Aquatics Centre to form a dramatic and action-packed gateway to the Olympic Park when spectators arrive in 2012." The venue will be built at the main eastern entrance to the Olympic Park next to the Aquatics Centre, in what will be one of the most compact areas of the 500 acre site.

Possibly the only elite sporting venue in the world to be built from recycled cushions, the water polo arena is a temporary venue located next to the Aquatics Centre in the south-east corner of the Olympic Park. The venue will feature a 37-metre competition pool and warm-up pool. Designed to complement the look of the Aquatics Centre, the wedge-shaped arena will rise from 12 meters to 25 meters and feature a rippling roof made of recycled PVC cushions inflated with air to provide extra insulation. It will share some of the Aquatics Centre’s back of house facilities such as catering, security and the area for broadcasters.

After the Games, the arena will be taken down. Various parts of the dismantled venue are due to be re-used or relocated elsewhere in the UK. Olympic Water Polo is much interesting Olympic sport. People like to watch it. You can also buy Olympic Water Polo Tickets for Olympic Games 2012, London. Global Ticket Market offers you all sorts of Olympic Tickets. Any type of Olympic Tickets including Olympic Water Polo Tickets is available at Global Ticket Market easily, securely and at very cheap rates.

U.S Women Water Polo team and Olympic Water Polo Tickets

USA Olympic Water Polo is proud to announce the U.S. Olympic Teams for Men's and Women's Olympic Water Polo that will compete at the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China starting August 8. The squads each qualified for the Olympics via Gold Medal victories at the 2007 Pan American Games and both are fresh off Silver Medal finishes at the 2008 FINA World League Super Final.

Leading the way for the women's team, the current FINA World Champions is captain Brenda Villa who is headed to her third Olympic Games. Joining her is another three time Olympian in Heather Petri and two timers Natalie Golda. The rest of the squad is made up of 10 first time Olympians who despite the fact are rich with experience having all spent at least the last two years with the national team.

Moriah van Norman, Lauren Wenger, Patty Cardenas, Brittany Hayes, and Kami Craig round out the Southern California contingent, as the five former college teammates will suit up for Team USA. Joining them is two of Michigan's finest in Alison Gregorka and Bestey Armstrong along with the other non-Californian in Elsie Windes. Last but not least are a pair from Central and Northern California in Jaime Hipp and Jessica Steffens.

When we name the team it's a great time in our program, there is excitement and for some there is also relief. It's the last part, we got our team and this will be the team that will represent us at the Olympic Games. Guy Baker, Head Coach U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Olympic Water Polo On the men's side two athletes also return for their Olympic Games in the form of team captain Tony Azevedo and veteran center Ryan Bailey. Joining those two are five returning Olympians including Layne Beaubien, Adam Wright, Jeff Powers, Jesse Smith, and Brandon Brooks. Concluding the roster are six first timers including Rick Merlo, Merrill Moses, Peter Hudnut, Tim Hutten, Peter Varellas, and JW Krumpholz.

Alternates for the men's team are Brian Alexander and John Mann while Erika Figge will serve as the alternate for the women. The men's team begins competition August 10 against China while the women start August 11 also against China.

"The last six months a big part of it was evaluation and selecting the team, and today we also are honoring the guys that didn't make it. Now we focus on these 13 guys and I think we have the potential to continue to improve and grow and make Team USA even better." Terry Schroeder, Head Coach U.S. Olympic Team for Men's Water Polo.

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