Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 7
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Water polo is a dynamic team sport played in a swimming pool, combining elements of swimming, ball handling, and tactical teamwork. Just like football or basketball, the number of players in the water at one time is fixed by the rules and is an essential piece of basic general knowledge about the sport. This question asks you to recall how many players make up one team in the pool at a time, including the goalkeeper, during standard play.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
According to standard rules, each water polo team has seven players in the pool at a time: six field players and one goalkeeper. Substitutions are allowed, but at any moment during regular play, a team has exactly seven players competing. This fixed team size is similar to how football has eleven on the field and basketball has five on the court per side. Therefore, we choose the option that states seven players as the team size in the water during play.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
If you have watched any water polo match coverage, you may recall commentators mentioning the “six attackers plus the keeper” on each side. The image of multiple players treading water around the goal, with one clearly defending the net, is consistent with a seven player team. Rule summaries from sports encyclopedias and Olympic coverage also clearly state “seven players per team in the pool”.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse the number of field players with the total including the goalkeeper. Others think about total squad size, which includes substitutes and can be larger, but the question is clearly about “players in a water polo team” during play. Always read whether the question is asking about players on the field or total squad, and whether the goalkeeper is included.
Final Answer:
There are 7 players in one standard water polo team in the pool at a time, including the goalkeeper.
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