What Equipment Is Used in Water Polo?

Water polo was developed in Europe and the United States with the faster, less dangerous European style predominating as the form of the game played universally today, according to the official website of the Olympic movement (olympic.org).

  1. Player Attire

    • Water polo is played by both men and women. The attire for water polo players, as described on the official website of the Olympic movement, consists of a non-transparent swimsuit and bathing caps with individual numbers to distinguish the different players on a team, with ear guards to provide protection.

    The Field of Play

    • Water polo is played in a pool with two goals which float on the water. The goals are "3 meters wide and 0.9 meters high," according to the Olympic movement website. The extent of the field of play is defined by lane ropes and buoys, which also indicate the distances from the goals.

    The Ball

    • The water polo ball weighs "between 14 and 16 ounces and must be inflated to approximately 13 PSI of pressure," according to athleticscholarships.net. There are different sizes of ball for the male and female game, with the male ball having a 28-inch circumference compared to the 26.5-inch circumference of the ball intended for use by female players, as explained on athleticscholarships.net.