Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-10
20 PLAY WATER POLO
TEAM TO BE FORMED IN THE
Y. M. c. A.

The formation of a water polo team to
represent the local Y. NJ. c. A. Is contem-
plated by the physical director and his as
sistants. meeting of all those interested
IN aquatic sports principally water polo
has been called for tomorrow evening in the
Outing Club room, on the second floor OF
the new Y. NJ. C. A. building Judging
from the number that have already spoken
of the desire to join such team it's sue
cess is assured
Water polo has never been played in
Washington as a regular sport but it is
expected to prove attractive 1t has been
introduced in many of the Y NJ c. A
branches in the large cities in this country
and has been very popular Phil Nj.
Kemon, who will have charge of the forma-
ton, and training of the water polo team
played for one season with the crack team
of tne Central 7. NJ. C. A. in Chicago, and
he has had much experience in the sport
Others who have expressed an interest in
such d team have played in other places
With this old material and with the many
good swimmers which are found in the local
association, Mr.. Kemon thinks that the
prospects for an excellent team here are
bright.
When the team has been organized and
regular practice has been instituted it is
expected that match games with teams in
other cities will be played. Already the
Baltimore Athletic Association has asked
for game, and it is believed that games
can be arranged with teams from Philadel-
phia, New York, Richmond and other cities
The facilities provided in the new Y M.
Z. A. building for playing water polo are
excellent. In the new plant a swimming
pool thirty feet wide by eighty feet long
has been provided. This is one of the
largest In the country and furnishes
large water polo field. There is sufficient
space around the pool to accommodate a
good number of spectators.
The water polo team will be conducted in
connection with an aquatic club. The aim
will be to develop interest In swimming,
water contests, life saving, water polo and
such amusements The club in the Chi
over fifty on it's membership rolls, and
which has been very successful, will be
taken as a model for the local club. Mr..
Kemon Is familiar with the workings of
that club and will introduce its good fea-
lures and suggest improvements.
Water polo Is much like the game of bas-
ket ball. except that 1t Is played in the
water and board is used as q goal instead
of a. basket. There are six men on each
team. two forwards halfback. two backs
and a goal keeper. lining up much as is
done In basket ball.
The ball is thrown in the water by the
referee and the play starts when he blows
his whistle. There are two halves, each
eight minutes of actual play; and the in
Permission between the halves is for five
minutes. The ball is of rubber and not
larger than nine inches nor smaller than
eight inches in diameter. This must be
worked along or near the surface of the
water by one team and pushed up by the
hand Of one of the players until it touches
the goal of the opponents. The goals are
at opposite ends of the pool. They are
eighteen inches from the surface of the
water, are one foot wide and four feet
long and are marked goal" In large let
ters. To make. a goal, the ball must be
held against the goal by the hand. The
team making the largest number of goals
In the two halves wins the game.
AS in basket ball or foot ball, there are
many tricks, many little methods of team
work which make the game both interesting
and exciting. Owing to the daring move
ments made In the water by the players, the
game is often a spectacular and interesting
one.
Besides P. M. Kemon. who will have the
game in charge, there are several who have
handed their names to him for admission
to the game. They include w. F. Under
wood. an old English player; J. M. Mat
thews and Jesse H. Arnold.