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What is Water Polo

​Water polo is a total and complete sport that combines the rapid body movements of basketball, strong swimming skills and manoeuvrability, and the high intensity of handball.  It is an all-round team sport, where the athletes are submerged in deep water and the play is on the surface throughout the game.  Two opposing teams of seven players each will pit their skills in attack and defence against each other, swimming and scoring goals to win the game.  It is a sport that is entertaining, fun and vigorous which keeps your body healthy and strong and the mind active with a high level of alertness; always organizing and strategizing to outwit the opponents.

Benefits of Water Polo

Through playing water polo, a person can begin, from a young age till much older, to enjoy the following health benefits that comes with the sport:
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  • Cardio workout – Water polo creates sufficient intensity to get your heart pumping at the required cardio rates for at least 30 mins at each practice.  This healthy routine will prevent heart related illnesses, boost good cholesterol, reduces bad cholesterol, lowers blood pressure and improve your cardiovascular.
 
  • Full-body Workout – Staying afloat above water to play the game demands for every part of the body to be active, from the legs, thighs, abdomen, arms, shoulders, hands and feet.  Muscles in the entire person are engaged and with repeated training, these gains increased in strength.
 
  • Burns calories – Playing water polo offers a non-stop, fat burning workout. During the game, the whole body is worked out as highlighted above in order to keep a player afloat, thus, burning loads of calories leading to loss of weight. Players can burn up to 700 calories in one hour.  Regular exercise benefits one’s metabolism and lowers blood sugar level, and increases one’s overall health and fitness.
 
  • Builds endurance – As an intensive workout, water polo pushes the athletes’ boundaries and increases their stamina and endurance.  A player can swim up to 5km in a game.  This is beneficial because it allows one to exercise longer without getting exhausted, making a person a stronger athlete. Taking part in exercises that increase endurance and has the stability of reducing oxidative stress.
 
  • Cooling Effect – Exercising in water is a good choice because it keeps your body from overheating, which leads to exhaustion.  All aquatic sports allow your body to exercise more thoroughly without giving up from heat, resulting in a more fulfilling workout.
 
  • Teaches strategy – It is a team sport and therefore, there is a need to strategizes with your team mates to determine how to overcome the opponents.  This process facilitates learning, planning, problem solving skills and builds mental strength.
 
  • Injury prevention – Playing in water reduces impact to the body and the joints.  Water polo, therefore, is one of the only high impact sports in which the injury rate is low, despite the rigor of the game.
 
  • Team sport – Water polo teaches a player about team work, grow team bonding and cooperation.  This builds accountability and responsibility, encouraging commitment and a high frequency in training.  It also improves communications and develop social skills during interaction with others.   
 
Stress relief – Playing a sport that is entertaining and fun, exercising physically and thinking and interacting with your friends take away much of the tension that we face daily.  Water polo is one of the better sports that relieves one from the stress they undergo daily. A player will experience a spirit of satisfaction, self-esteem, courage and the need for companionship.  The endorphins produced during training and games will relieve stress and increase optimism.

How old should your child play Water Polo?

Most clubs recommend the child to commence playing the sport from as young as eight years old.  However, exceptions are made for younger children of 6 years old if they have the right aptitude, swimming ability and physique. Those who have high aspirations should begin to play before the age of twelve.  Notwithstanding, joining and playing the sport for health benefits would be useful at any age.  ​

Specific Benefits of Water Polo for Kids

  • Children playing water polo are healthier and in better physical condition, stronger as compared to athletes of other sports as water polo offers all-round development, typically burning more calories and building more strength.
  • Various skills learnt from the sport enhances motor skills and flexibility.
  • Due to the low impact of playing sports in water, injuries are less significant compared to many other contact sports.
  •  Water polo, being a team sport, helps develop the child in their social, intellectual, planning, organizing, strategizing and communications skills.  Overall, the sports develop the child to have strong leadership.
  • Playing in the sport will help relieve tension and stress, reducing possibility of depression.
  • Frequent exercising helps the young establish healthy living habits which are likely to continue as they grow-up.
  • Kids involved in water polo are less likely to be lured to experimenting drugs, cigarettes etc.

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