Water Polo – Glossary
| Centre Back |
A key defensive player responsible for marking the opposing centre forward and preventing scoring chances. |
| Centre Forward |
An offensive player positioned near the opponent’s goal, responsible for creating scoring opportunities and drawing defenders. |
| Exclusion Foul |
A major foul that results in the penalised player being excluded from play for 20 seconds, leaving their team temporarily shorthanded. |
| Free Throw |
A throw awarded after an ordinary foul, allowing the fouled team to continue play without defensive interference. |
| Goal Throw |
A restart awarded to the defending team when the attacking team last touches the ball before it goes out of bounds beyond the goal line. |
| Lob Shot |
A high, arcing shot designed to pass over the goalkeeper and drop into the goal. |
| Ordinary Foul |
A minor rule infraction such as impeding an opponent’s movement, pushing off, or failing to pass after a foul. Ordinary fouls result in a free throw for the opposing team but do not lead to exclusions or penalties. |
| Penalty Foul |
A severe foul committed inside the five- metre area, resulting in a five-metre penalty shot for the attacking team. |
| Shot Clock |
The 30-second timer limiting how long a team can possess the ball before taking a shot. |
| Skip Shot |
A shot that bounces off the water before reaching the goal, making it difficult for the goalkeeper to anticipate. |
| Sprint (Swim-Off) |
The race at the start of each quarter where players sprint to the centre of the pool to gain possession of the ball. |
| Steal |
Successfully taking the ball from an opponent through defensive positioning or anticipation. |
| Turnover Foul |
A violation by the attacking team (such as pushing off or improper ball handling) that results in the opposing team gaining possession. |
| Two-Metre Throw (Corner Throw) |
A restart awarded to the attacking team when the defending team last touches the ball before it crosses the goal line outside the goalposts. |
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