Water polo might not be familiar to everyone; it’s a game of skill, strategy, and endurance.
Water polo is often described as a mix between basketball and soccer, but played in water. A game has four quarters of seven minutes each, and each team gets 30 seconds per possession to try to score. Seven players are in the pool at the same time. The field players usually form a ring around the goal, with one “set” player in the center. The main strategy is to pass the ball to the set, which is the closest to the cage. “It’s harder than it sounds, because it’s fast, aggressive, and you’re treading water the whole time,” Russell said.
Practice reflects the intensity of the game. The team practices most afternoons from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. Workouts begin with swimming sets – sometimes an hour of laps. After that, they moved on to play. “It definitely takes a lot of energy out of you,” Russel said, “You finish practicing, and then you still have to go home and do homework. It’s draining, but worth it.”
Game days bring their own schedule. The team arrives early to set up the pool or watch the junior varsity’s or boys’ game before warming up. Then comes a quick team talk, where players set individual and group goals for the game. Russell said that this tradition helps everyone to stay motivated and focused. “I feel like all the girls are pretty close,” she said. “That’s what makes it fun- the team spirit is really strong.”
The physical side of the sport might surprise newcomers. While from the pool deck a match looks like clean passing and shooting, underwater it’s much rougher. “People don’t know that it’s pretty aggressive underwater,” Russell said, “Girls are grabbing suits, hands, and arms. It makes it very difficult to move.”
Water polo at our school isn’t just about games at home. The program created opportunities for travel and international experience, including past trips to Italy and Greece. These journeys combine competition with cultural exploration and bring the team even closer together. For Russel, they have been a highlight of her years on the team.
When asked what advice she would give someone thinking about joining, Russel said, “I would say it’s a really cool opportunity to go to some nice places if you want to do that, because the program is trying to make it so we can go on training trips somewhere every two years. So if you’re interested, you should join. But it’s definitely a big commitment. Make sure you want to do it.” Upcoming games for Varsity and junior varsity are the Tulare Union Tournament and the AG Fall Classic. We are excited to see the girls performing!
Water polo might not be the easiest sport to learn, but it combines athleticism, teamwork, and resilience. For the girls’ water polo team, the pool is more than a place to compete. It’s where athletes push themselves, support one another, and grow stronger together.
