I think one way to get more boys or teenage boys involved with swimming is by getting states to expect the sport of water polo. My state doesn't do it and a lot of other states don't do polo. But if more states adoptive the sport more young men would be involved with swimming at least in the high school level. Most guys at my high school in California during the 1970's played Water Polo in the summer and fall and swam in the spring. They were in better shape in swimming and could work more yardage than if they swam for only 3 months which is common for states without water polo. Water polo is so popular with teenagers in California that they introduce even girls teams in the 1990's. Most boys like a sport which is similar to hockey except that its in a pool instead of an ice rink. Also, US water polo would gain by having a bigger pool to draw from on their national team instead of 80 percent or more just coming from California.
Originally posted by Matt S
Why isn't water polo more popular, as a spectator sport as well? The similarities to basketball/soccer/hockey are striking.
During college, our tournament programs included definitions and general game information. I think the big point of confusion are the minor fouls. You get a whistle blown every few seconds; I'm sure a newbie would be confused about what the foul was, and whether the player can shoot or not. (The same is true for me watching soccer, but the fouls / free kicks are much more infrequent than in w polo.)
I had a friend who was playing in the Eastern water polo league (a Masters-type program). He was talking about dropping out, because the game (much like hockey) was shifting towards physical brutes, rather than skill/speed players.
Originally posted by Matt S
Why isn't water polo more popular, as a spectator sport as well? The similarities to basketball/soccer/hockey are striking.
During college, our tournament programs included definitions and general game information. I think the big point of confusion are the minor fouls. You get a whistle blown every few seconds; I'm sure a newbie would be confused about what the foul was, and whether the player can shoot or not. (The same is true for me watching soccer, but the fouls / free kicks are much more infrequent than in w polo.)
I had a friend who was playing in the Eastern water polo league (a Masters-type program). He was talking about dropping out, because the game (much like hockey) was shifting towards physical brutes, rather than skill/speed players.
