What would you consider a sport if it involves the savagery of field games like hockey and football, the psychological stress of strategizing against your opponents, and the additional risk of probably drowning? That’s what water polo is all about. 

If you have ever witnessed a water polo game, it indeed is a thrilling experience. But have you wondered what it would be like for the players? Keep reading and know how this exciting water sport is one of the most challenging games. 

Water polo involves treading in water for 30 minutes, catching a ball, and dodging the other opponent players. The game becomes quite vicious with the risk of drowning and requires mental and physical strength to become a professional water polo player.  

If you want to know more about water polo, here is some more information for you to enjoy.

Vicious Players

Although punching and hitting a fellow player is considered wrong, many players still manage to get away with it. Since the game is underwater, you can hardly see who touched who. 

One of the most usual techniques is using nails to scratch or bruise the other player. Therefore, officials ensure that players’ nails are properly filed before anyone jumps into the water. 

Despite all the precautions, players are bruised, scratched, and welted. Punching under the water is a pretty typical scene in water polo. 

Endurance & Strength

A water polo player has to swim around 1.5 miles during each game. Swimming requires strength because other enemy players will drag and climb all over the player. As a result, your opponents will push you under the water to break your physical endurance. 

Peddling the legs in nine feet deep water for survival is not a joke. Instead, every muscle of your body will feel the pressure. Sometimes, you will muscle with another opponent to come out of the water and rise above the water to shoot and block shots. 

Eric Neel from Espn says that water polo combines sprinting, basketball, and wrestling with no floor to support your feet. 

Bleachers report considers water polo the most demanding sport in the world; each missed shot means that the player will have to sprint back to the other end of the pool, and every chance to pass or shoot involves a constant battle with other people players. 

Players don’t have time to think or hesitate because, in fractions of minutes, the game will turn up in favor of the opponent. Unfortunately, there is no time to recover. The slightest weakness in your strength will cost you the game. 

Success in this game requires a lot of training and preparation. However, one should be prepared to face the worst. For example, water polo players practice almost 7 hours a day and sometimes even more. 

It is an all-encompassing sport that will challenge you mentally, emotionally, and physically.