Health Benefits of Water Polo

Water polo is a combination of soccer, basketball, hockey and rugby played in a deep pool. Because it is played in water, a player must be a very good swimmer. Water polo demands a lot from the human body, and the health benefits of water polo stem from the difficulty of working out in the water.

  1. Endurance

    • This sport builds endurance because players swim the equivalent of 4 miles per game.

    Strength

    • Building total body strength is another health benefit of water polo, as it takes every muscle to keep the body above water.

    Arms

    • One of the health benefits of water polo includes strengthening and toning the arms due to the constant ball tossing.

    Legs

    • The leg muscles are strengthened and toned, since the legs have to be in constant motion for the duration of the game.

    Cardiovascular Health and Fat Burning

    • Water polo improves cardiovascular health; and players of this sport burn as much as 700 calories per hour (see Resources).

    Flexibility

    • Building flexibility is one of the health benefits of water polo because players have to be agile in order to be successful at the sport.