Water polo, a team pool game, is the oldest team sport continuously present in the Olympic Games. Here’s how the game is played. Each team has 7 members in the water: 6 players and 1 goalie. They can have up to 6 subs for use throughout the game. Traditionally, visiting teams wore white swim caps and home teams wore blue, though now any contrasting colors are allowed. (Goalies always wear red.) The game is most similar to hand ball and soccer, though the use of power plays has led to comparisons with ice hockey. The ball is about the size of a volleyball.

A game of water polo consists of 4 quarters: from 5 minutes for club leagues up to 8 minutes for collegiate and Olympic water polo. All field players can use only one hand during play. The goalie can use both hands. During game play no one is allowed to touch the bottom of the pool. The constant treading of water tires players quickly, which is why so many subs are necessary. The goal, as with most sports, is to work with your team to progress the ball from the centerline into your opponent’s goal. A team cannot hold possession for more than 30 seconds without attempting a goal. If 30 seconds passes with no shot, possession goes to the opposing team. Only the team in possession can call a time out. Each team gets 2 1-minute time outs per game, in addition to the 2-minute rest periods between quarters. The winner is the team with the most points at the end of 4 quarters.