Beach water polo

Beach water polo (also Beach Beach Ball) is a simplified form of water polo , which is played with lighter rules and on a smaller pitch. The game is mainly played in open waters such as lakes, rivers or in the sea, but it can also be played in swimming pools. Beach water polo is based on other "beach" sports such as beach volleyball or beach soccer , is intended both as a leisure and competitive sport and is intended to make the sport more interesting for laypeople, spectators and the media.

The playing area is 15 × 11.5 m. The dimensions of the goals are also smaller than the original at 2.50 × 0.80 m. In addition, the smaller women's water polo is played. A team consists of three field players, a goalkeeper and two substitute players. In three-thirds of the game, however, unlike classic water polo, the game is not played for time, but in sets, as in tennis. A set ends with the sixth goal scored (e.g. 4: 2, 1: 5 or 3: 3).

The first beach water polo tournament was held in Italy in 1995. At the third tournament in 1998 the "Coppa del Mediterraneo" was held, in which Italy , France , Malta and Montenegro took part.

Beach water polo was already part of the Asian Beach Games program at the 2008 premiere event in Bali .