A shot clock. A point player who distributes the ball. A middle player around whom the offense is centered. "Hack-a-Shaq"-like defensive strategies. Fouls, foul shots, steals, and screens.
March Madness, right? Or maybe it's the NBA.
Not exactly.
The game of water polo in the United States is rarely played or understood outside California — of the top-20 ranked collegiate women's water polo teams, 14 are from California.
But for those who aren't from the Golden State or don't reside in other hotbeds scattered across the country, water polo is one of those mysterious sports that we watch every four years in the Summer Olympics, but that quickly fade from our memories when the Games end. Many unknowing east-coasters wonder how teams possibly get horses to tread water, while others scan the pool looking for the closed-eyed one who yells "Marco."
After all, any sport whose reigning world champion is Serbia-Montenegro isn't likely to have the popularity in the United States of the sports we're more accustomed to dominating.
So for today's lesson in Water Polo 101, we explain the positions to anyone foreign to this puzzling aquatic sport.
Goalkeeper
This position is simple enough, as most people are familiar with the concept of a goalkeeper from sports such as soccer, lacrosse and hockey. The goalie's job, as one might suspect, is to keep the ball from hitting the back of the net.
But like soccer, a water polo goalkeeper has certain perks that distinguish the position from those in the field, or more appropriately, in the pool. While all other players can only touch the ball with one hand at a time, and are not allowed to strike the ball with a clenched fist, the goalkeeper is allowed to do such things without being whistled for an ordinary foul. The goalie, however, is not allowed to go or touch the ball beyond the half-distance line.
Princeton's starting goalkeeper is sophomore Natalie Kim, who currently ranks 16th nationally with 124 saves in 15 games.
Two-meter
If Shaquille O'Neal played water polo, he would play two-meter. The position is the center of attention on offense, scoring the most goals while also setting many plays in motion. The Tigers' main two-meter threat is junior Elyse Colgan, who currently leads the team with 26 goals and scored 82 goals to rank ninth in the nation last season.
The two-meter most often takes a position directly in front of the opposing goalie, treading water right around the two-meter line, as the name suggests. On many possessions, the ball will be passed into the center position, where the two-meter offender will try to score a goal or draw a foul — much like in basketball. If a foul is committed, however, the player has three seconds to make a free throw, but may only pass to one of her teammates, and may not shoot immediately off the free throw. Unlike in basketball, a free throw here is more similar to an indirect kick in soccer, as the ball must touch two players before a goal can be scored. Thus, it is often the case that the two-meter defender will intentionally commit an ordinary foul, forcing the two-meter offender to pass the ball back out to the perimeter.
Drivers
If the two-meter position is like basketball's center, then the remaining five offensive players actually resemble perimeter players in basketball's Princeton Offense. Of the five players, four are drivers while the fifth is called the two-meter defender. While the ball is being circulated on offense, and especially when the two-meter offender has a free throw (but not shot), drivers will set screens for each other in order to get open for shots.
Two-meter defense
This person's main job is to defend the opposing team's two-meter offender. The job consists of attempting to steal the ball, blocking shots and committing the hack-a-Shaq-esque intentional fouls to force the ball to the perimeter.
On offense, the two-meter defender often acts like basketball's point guard because of her central location at the top of the offensive set.
So for those who are not familiar with water polo, it may be easy to think of water polo positions in terms of basketball positions. Otherwise, some of us may still live life wondering how they get horses into the pool.
Read More
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals after 19–18 loss to No. 5 Syracuse
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
With the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.