The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-11-22
WATER POLO.
A New Game introduced sr,
Players and their Tasks

Players and their Tasks
A new sport, combining genuine
creation with picturesque athletic a.; ~
play, is thing to be hailed with del;chs
says New York letter to the San Fs.'
cisco Chronicle. If in addition to th aa.
advantages it is one peculiarly suited -
the season, and with so few limitat;osW'
that it can be played almost anywhs,s
its popularity is a foregone conclusion
Such a sport is water polo. which Wa.
played for the first time in this counts~
only few weeks ago, and the honor !,
its introduction to the list of Amer;cs.
pastimes belongs to Rhode Island. II !.
imported from England, but even the,a
it has beeu introduced only very IateIr
Polo on horseback and polo on skats,
have been followed by polo in the waite,
and the aquatic method proves to be mo-,
only the safest, but the most interestin,
of the three. 1t will not be surpris;nSs
if it should become a feature of the cav
and fashionable summer existence >,
Newport, Narragansett, Cape Nav. nt.
lantic City and other resorts.
To play polo on the water, it is essen.
tial that the participants in the game
should all be capable swimmers, entirely
at ease in water of depth varying from
three to eight feet, and able to dive and
stay under for moment. if need be.
Two goals are erected in the water
foot above the water mark. The goal il
merely piece of black cloth, about three
feet long and two feet deep, fastened at
the top, but hanging loose at the bottom.
so that rubber ball, which is about the
same size as football, may be pushed
between it in making a goal. At each
goal stands Judge, and referee is sta.
toned on one side near the entres, where
he commands good view of all the
players,
There are generally six players on each
side, and the object is to place the ball
in the opposite goal, but it must be
placed in to count goal, throwing it in
being counted us foul. The duration Of
the play depends on whether the goal has
been made. If at the expiration of ten
minutes no goal has been made, "time"
is called. After a rest of five minutes
the rubber is thrown out BY the referee.
which is signal for the players to get
ready; then a whistle is blown and there
is an almost simultaneous plunge by both
teams for the ball.
The positions taken in a match-game
are somewhat similar to those in football.
1t is sort of football played with the
hands. There is the same kind of on.
slaught for the capture of the ball, and
it is kept in motion by the members Of
one side passing it from one to another.
Some very ludicrous and laughable scenes
sometimes take place. Two men will
clutch for the ball at the same time, and
both will disappear, and on their re-
appearance the one with the ball will
find on reaching the surface two or three
of his opponents in waiting for him, who
pounce upon and sink him out of sight
In moment, probably, all but the
goal-tenders are in the middle of the
tank, and all that can be seen is a con-
fused mass of arms and legs, but the
keen-eyed captains of the teams have got
their wits. about them, and a sign or an
expression will cause two or three of the
players to gradually near the opponents
goal. The goal-tender's fun then com.
mences. He makes a rush for the ball.
but the adroit "rubberist" passes it to
another of his team, and if his opponents
have not come to the assistance of their
tender captures the goal.
The difficulty of making goal can
only be understood by actual practice.
One hand must be on the ball when it IS
played in the goal, and in deep water
this is rather difficult feat, with some
body on the players back trying to force
him under water, but he depends on his
friends to keep him out of such a d.
lemma. They may not come up to his
expectations, and in a second the aspect
of the game is changed and the ball is at
the other end of the tank. There are
now five clubs in the East.