Water Polo Glossary of Terms.
Advantage
rule: The
referee's option not to call a foul if that call would benefit the
offending team.
Backhand:
A
shot or pass that is thrown backward.
Ball
Under: A
foul that is called on a player who takes or holds the ball
underwater while being tackled by an opponent.
Brutality:
A
foul called for rough or dangerous play such as elbowing, punching
or otherwise intending to injure an opponent or official.
Bunny:
A hard shot aimed at or near the goalie's head, which results in a
goal; also called a "donut."
Centre-Back:
A
defensive player whose main job is to defend against the opposing
centre-forward.
Centre-Forward:
The
main attacking player who is positioned in front of the opponent's
goal between the two-metre and four-metre lines. Also known as the
"hole man," "hole set" or "two-metre
man."
Corner
throw: A
free throw awarded to the offensive team when a defensive player
touches the ball last before it goes over the goal line, outside the
goal itself. Taken at the side wall at the two-metre line.
Donut:
A
hard shot aimed at or near the goalie's head, which results in a
goal. Also called a "bunny."
Dribble:
To
swim with the ball.
Drive:
When
a player without the ball swims quickly to the front of the opposing
goal.
Drop:
A
defensive strategy in which players protect the centre of the pool
and attempt to block the shots on goal.
Dry
pass: A
pass that can be caught above the water.
Eggbeater:
A
leg kick used by players to raise themselves vertically and tread
water at the same time.
Exclusion
Area: The
area to which offending players are sent for serious fouls for 20
seconds unless their team is scored upon.
Exclusion
foul:
A foul that results in the offending player being sent to the
exclusion area. These include: interfering with a corner throw, free
throw or goal throw; holding or pulling an opponent who isn't
holding the ball; intentionally striking or splashing an opponent.
Four-metre
foul: A
foul by a defensive player attempting to prevent a goal in the four-metre
area. This results in a penalty throw for the opposing team.
Goal
line: An
imaginary line across the pool, at the mouth of the goal, marked by
white buoys.
Half-distance
line: An
imaginary line marked by white buoys that divides the playing area
in half.
Hole
guard: A
defensive player who is positioned in front of the net and guards
the opposing centre-forward.
Lane
press: A
defensive strategy in which players block the opponent's passing
lanes by positioning themselves between the ball and the players
they are guarding.
Man-down:
Similar
to a short-handed situation in hockey, when a team plays with one
less player for 20 seconds or less because of a foul.
Moving
pick: Similar
to a pick in basketball, where an offensive player runs interference
for a teammate, allowing him to pass or shoot the ball.
Penalty
throw: A
throw taken by an offensive player from the four-metre line with
only the goalkeeper defending. Awarded when a defending player
commits a foul inside the four-metre line.
Point:
The
offensive spot located furthest from the goal at the
12
o'clock
position.
Seven-metre
line: An
imaginary line across the pool, marked by green buoys, located seven
metres from each goal.
Sink:
Pushing
an opponent underwater during a tackle.
Stalling:
Failure
to shoot or advance the ball within 35 seconds of gaining
possession, resulting in loss of possession.
Swim-off:
The
race at the start of the game in which players swim for the ball in
the centre of the pool.
Two-metre
line: An
imaginary line across the pool, indicated by red buoys located two
metres from each goal.
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