Think you know water polo? From its Olympic history to rules, equipment, and international champions, this quiz will challenge both casual fans and seasoned players. Answers are listed immediately below each question.
General Water Polo Knowledge
1. How many players are in the water for each team in a standard match?
Answer: 7
2. What is the minimum depth of an Olympic water polo pool?
Answer: 1.8 metres
3. What is the width of a standard water polo goal?
Answer: 3 metres
4. What is the height of a water polo goal?
Answer: 0.9 metres
5. How long is a standard men’s water polo match?
Answer: 4 quarters of 8 minutes
6. How long is a standard women’s water polo match?
Answer: 4 quarters of 8 minutes
7. What is the maximum number of players allowed on the team roster?
Answer: 13
8. What colour cap do the home team field players usually wear?
Answer: White
9. What colour cap do the visiting team field players usually wear?
Answer: Blue
10. Which colour cap is worn by the goalkeeper?
Answer: Red
Rules and Gameplay
11. How long does a team have to take a shot before the shot clock runs out?
Answer: 30 seconds
12. How many timeouts is each team allowed per match?
Answer: 2
13. How many personal fouls lead to a player being excluded for the remainder of the game?
Answer: 3
14. What is the distance of a penalty throw from the goal?
Answer: 5 metres
15. How far from the goal is the 2-metre line, which attacking players cannot enter without the ball?
Answer: 2 metres
16. What happens if a player commits an ordinary foul?
Answer: Opponent is awarded a free throw
17. What happens if a player commits an exclusion foul?
Answer: Player is excluded for 20 seconds
18. How many referees are typically present in international matches?
Answer: 2
19. What happens when the ball crosses the goal line without entering the goal?
Answer: Goal throw to defending team
20. How many periods are played in total during a water polo match?
Answer: 4
Olympic and International Competitions
21. In what year did water polo first appear in the Olympics?
Answer: 1900
22. Which country has won the most men’s Olympic gold medals?
Answer: Hungary
23. Which country won the first women’s Olympic water polo gold in 2000?
Answer: Australia
24. Which country won men’s water polo gold at Tokyo 2020?
Answer: Serbia
25. Which country won women’s water polo gold at Tokyo 2020?
Answer: United States
26. In what year was the first FINA World Championship that included water polo held?
Answer: 1973
27. Which country won the men’s World Championship in 2019?
Answer: Italy
28. Which country won the women’s World Championship in 2019?
Answer: United States
29. Which European club competition is the top tier for men’s water polo?
Answer: LEN Champions League
30. Which country hosted the 2023 World Aquatics Championships?
Answer: Japan
Players and Records
31. Who holds the record for most goals scored in men’s Olympic water polo history?
Answer: Manuel Estiarte (Spain)
32. Who is the US female player with the most Olympic gold medals as of 2021?
Answer: Maggie Steffens
33. Which Hungarian player won three consecutive Olympic gold medals from 2000–2008?
Answer: Tibor Benedek
34. Which Serbian player is one of the top scorers in recent Olympic tournaments?
Answer: Filip Filipović
35. Who scored the winning goal in the 2012 Olympic men’s final between Croatia and Italy?
Answer: Sandro Sukno
36. Which country has appeared in the most men’s Olympic water polo tournaments?
Answer: Hungary
37. How many goals were scored in the 2016 Olympic women’s final between USA and Spain?
Answer: 19
38. Which player is known for being a top goalkeeper for the US women’s team in 2016?
Answer: Ashleigh Johnson
39. Which European rivalry is considered the fiercest in men’s water polo?
Answer: Hungary vs Serbia
40. Which country has the most women’s World Championship titles as of 2021?
Answer: United States
Tiebreaker
How many total goals were scored in the men’s gold medal match at the 2012 London Olympics between Croatia and Italy?
Answer: 14
Information accurate as of September 2025
