Water polo in the United States explained

Water polo in the United States
Union:USA Water Polo
Country:United States
Sport:Water polo
Nationalteam:Men's national team
Women's national team
Intl List:Olympic Games
World Aquatics Championships
FINA Water Polo World Cup
FINA Water Polo World League
Pan American Games

Water polo in the United States is governed by different organizations. The USA Water Polo (USAWP) governs most levels of water polo in the country, including the national teams and amateur tournaments. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) governs colleges, and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) governs high schools. No professional water polo leagues run in the United States.

National water polo teams

The United States men's and women's national water polo teams represent the United States in international tournaments, including the Olympic Games, World Aquatics Championships, FINA Water Polo World Cup, FINA Water Polo World League, and Pan American Games.

Men's national team

See main article: United States men's national water polo team.

The United States men's national water polo team has won multiple medals in international tournaments. In 1988 and 2009, the United States rose to World No. 2 in the FINA Water Polo World Rankings, their highest ranking to date.

Olympic Games

See also: United States men's Olympic water polo team statistics.

Men's water polo tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1900. The United States has participated in 22 of 27 tournaments.

The United States men's national water polo team is the only non-European squad to win medals in the men's Olympic water polo tournament. At the 1904 Olympic Games, The U.S. squad won the gold, silver and bronze medals in the men's water polo tournament (demonstration event). Since 1904 the team has won three silver medals at the 1984, 1988, and 2008 Olympic Games, and three bronze medals at the 1924, 1932, and 1972 Olympic Games. The team also finished fourth at the 1920, 1952 and 1992 Olympic Games.

Other international tournaments

Men's water polo tournaments have been staged at the FINA World Aquatics Championships since 1973. The United States has participated in every tournament, but the team has not won any medals. The best finish is fourth place (1986, 1991 and 2009). (Note: European squads have won all medals in the men's water polo tournaments.)

The FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup was established in 1979. The United States has participated in 15 of 16 tournaments. The team has won the 1991 and 1997 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup, becoming the only non-European squad to win the FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup. The team also finished as runners-up in 1979 and 1985. In addition, the team finished in fourth place 7 times (1981, 1983, 1987, 1993, 1995, 2010 and 2014).

The FINA Men's Water Polo World League began in 2002. The United States has participated in 17 of 18 tournaments. The team finished in second place twice (2008 and 2016), third place once (2003), and fourth place 7 times (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017).

Men's water polo tournaments have been staged at the Pan American Games since 1951. The United States team has participated and medaled in all eighteen tournaments. Since 1995, the team has won seven gold medals in a row (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019).

Competitive record

Updated after the 2019 Pan American Games.

Tournament Appearances Finishes
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Total
22 0 (1) 3 (4) 3 (4) 3 9 (12)
18 0 0 0 3 3
15 2 2 0 7 11
17 0 2 1 7 10
18 13 4 1 0 18
Total 90 15 (16) 11 (12) 5 (6) 20 51 (54)

Women's national team

See main article: United States women's national water polo team.

The United States fielded a women's national water polo team in the 1970s. Two decades later, the women's team became one of the leading teams in the world. Since 2014, the team has consecutively been ranked as World No. 1 team in the FINA Water Polo World Rankings.

Olympic Games

A women's water polo tournament was introduced for the 2000 Olympic Games. Since then, the United States has participated in every tournament.

The United States women's national water polo team is the only team to have medaled in all five Olympic tournaments, and the only team to have won two gold medals (2012, 2016). In addition, the team has won two silver medals at the 2000 and 2008 Olympic Games.

Other international tournaments

Women's water polo tournaments have been staged at the FINA World Aquatics Championships since 1986. The United States has participated in every tournament, and captured six world championship titles (2003, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017, and 2019). The team also finished as runners-up in 2005.

The FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup was established in 1979. The United States has participated in every tournament. The team has won the 1979, 2010, 2014 and 2018 FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup. In addition, the team finished in second place 5 times (1980, 1983, 1984, 1989 and 2002).

The FINA Women's Water Polo World League began in 2004. The United States has participated in every tournament. The team has finished in first place 13 times. As of today, there are only three tournaments in which the United States participated but did not receive a gold medal.

Women's water polo tournaments have been staged at the Pan American Games since 1999. The United States team has participated and medaled in all six tournaments. Since 2003, the team has won five gold medals in a row (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019).

Competitive record

Updated after the 2019 Pan American Games.

Tournament Appearances Finishes
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Total
5 2 2 1 0 5
14 6 1 2 2 11
17 4 5 1 3 13
16 13 1 1 0 15
6 5 1 0 0 6
Total 58 30 10 5 5 50

College water polo

Water polo does not have a professional tournament in the United States, so the highest level of annual competition is at the college level. As a varsity sport for both men and women, the NCAA sanctions water polo is popular in the United States along the west coast, and parts of the east coast.

Men's college water polo

In the 2017–18 school year, 48 NCAA member schools sponsored men's water polo at the varsity level, with 1,047 participants across all three divisions.

Men's college water polo (1956–2018)
School year Total member
institutions
Total teams % of member
institutions
Total athletes Average
squad size
1956–1957 395 11 2.8% 272 24.7
1961–1962 536 30 5.6% 675 22.5
1966–1967 577 31 5.4% 755 24.4
1971–1972 663 52 7.8% 1,162 22.3
1976–1977 722 48 6.6% 975 20.3
1981–1982 753 49 6.5% 1,002 20.4
1982–1983 788 51 6.5% 1,181 23.2
1983–1984 786 52 6.6% 1,101 21.2
1984–1985 791 52 6.6% 1,114 21.4
1985–1986 794 53 6.7% 1,128 21.3
1986–1987 792 56 7.1% 1,121 20.0
1987–1988 793 58 7.3% 1,170 20.2
1988–1989 800 58 7.3% 1,189 20.5
1989–1990 802 55 6.9% 1,106 20.1
1990–1991 828 54 6.5% 1,151 21.3
1991–1992 847 48 5.7% 996 20.8
1992–1993 864 47 5.4% 978 20.8
1993–1994 892 39 4.4% 841 21.6
1994–1995 947 37 3.9% 747 20.2
1995–1996 998 44 4.4% 862 19.6
1996–1997 994 42 4.2% 892 21.2
1997–1998 985 43 4.4% 970 22.6
1998–1999 1,031 43 4.2% 908 21.1
1999–2000 1,041 42 4.0% 825 19.7
2000–2001 1,039 46 4.4% 911 19.8
2001–2002 1,036 48 4.6% 891 18.6
2002–2003 1,033 46 4.5% 855 18.6
2003–2004 1,039 46 4.4% 865 18.8
2004–2005 1,045 46 4.4% 939 20.4
2005–2006 1,062 45 4.2% 942 20.9
2006–2007 1,064 41 3.9% 893 21.8
2007–2008 1,070 42 3.9% 919 21.9
2008–2009 1,069 42 3.9% 914 21.8
2009–2010 1,073 41 3.8% 925 22.6
2010–2011 1,087 43 4.0% 1,018 23.7
2011–2012 1,096 43 3.9% 1,015 23.6
2012–2013 1,106 43 3.9% 999 23.2
2013–2014 1,113 44 4.0% 1,051 23.9
2014–2015 1,119 44 3.9% 1,044 23.7
2015–2016 1,119 45 4.0% 1,014 22.5
2016–2017 1,116 47 4.2% 1,013 21.6
2017–2018 1,114 48 4.3% 1,047 21.8
School year Total member
institutions
Total teams % of member
institutions
Total athletes Average
squad size

NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship

See main article: NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship.

The NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship is an annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA men's collegiate water polo. It has been held every year since 1969. All men's teams, whether from Division I, Division II, or Division III, are eligible to compete each year.

NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship (1969–2018)
College Team Champions Runners-up Total
14 8 22
11 9 20
10 12 22
10 11 21
3 6 9
1 0 1
1 0 1
0 1 1
0 1 1
0 1 1
0 1 1
Total 11 50 50 100

Women's college water polo

In the 2017–18 school year, 62 NCAA member schools sponsored women's water polo at the varsity level, with 1,216 participants across all three divisions.

Women's college water polo (1995–2018)
School year Total member
institutions
Total teams % of member
institutions
Total athletes Average
squad size
1995–1996 998 20 2.0% 374 18.7
1996–1997 994 23 2.3% 451 19.6
1997–1998 985 32 3.2% 661 20.7
1998–1999 1,031 37 3.6% 746 20.2
1999–2000 1,041 40 3.8% 833 20.8
2000–2001 1,039 50 4.8% 1,057 21.1
2001–2002 1,036 55 5.3% 1,055 19.2
2002–2003 1,033 56 5.4% 1,051 18.8
2003–2004 1,039 59 5.7% 1,126 19.1
2004–2005 1,045 61 5.8% 1,193 19.6
2005–2006 1,062 61 5.8% 1,173 19.2
2006–2007 1,064 61 5.7% 1,148 18.8
2007–2008 1,070 60 5.6% 1,155 19.3
2008–2009 1,069 60 5.6% 1,156 19.3
2009–2010 1,073 59 5.5% 1,164 19.7
2010–2011 1,087 60 5.5% 1,193 19.9
2011–2012 1,096 64 5.8% 1,219 19.0
2012–2013 1,106 61 5.5% 1,173 19.2
2013–2014 1,113 61 5.5% 1,201 19.7
2014–2015 1,119 60 5.4% 1,152 19.2
2015–2016 1,119 59 5.3% 1,136 19.3
2016–2017 1,116 61 5.5% 1,159 19.0
2017–2018 1,114 62 5.6% 1,216 19.6
School year Total member
institutions
Total teams % of member
institutions
Total athletes Average
squad size

NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship

See main article: NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship.

The NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship is an annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA women's collegiate water polo. It has been held every year since 2001. All women's teams, whether from Division I, Division II, or Division III, are eligible to compete each year.

NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship (2001–2019)
College Team Champions Runners-up Total
7 8 15
7 4 11
5 5 10
0 1 1
0 1 1
Total 5 19 19 38

High school water polo

High school water polo is popular in some states, including California, Florida and Illinois.

Boys' high school water polo

The National Federation of State High School Associations featured 22,475 boys in water polo teams in the 2018–19 school year.

Boys' high school water polo (1969–2019)
School year Number of
states
States* Number of
schools
Number of
participants
Average
squad size
Ref.
1969–1970 2 CA, HI 152 5,854 38.5
1971–1972 2 CA, HI 155 6,000 38.7
1973–1974 4 CA, HI, MO, OH 288 9,754 33.9
1975–1976 6 CA, HI, MI, MO, NV, OH 363 12,149 33.5
1977–1978 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH 397 12,455 31.4
1978–1979 4 CA, FL, HI, MO 355 10,027 28.2
1979–1980 6 CA, FL, HI, MI, MO, UT 363 10,168 28.0
1980–1981 7 CA, FL, HI, MI, MO, NV, PA 354 10,279 29.0
1981–1982 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, NV, PA 369 8,931 24.2
1982–1983 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, NV, UT 368 8,675 23.6
1983–1984 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, NV, PA 308 7,634 24.8
1984–1985 6 CA, FL, IL, MI, NV, PA 304 7,689 25.3
1985–1986 7 CA, FL, MI, MO, NE, PA, UT 340 8,635 25.4
1986–1987 9 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, NV, OH, PA 374 9,686 25.9
1987–1988 9 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA, UT 353 9,664 27.4
1988–1989 8 CA, FL, HI, ME, MI, MO, OH, PA 336 9,315 27.7
1989–1990 9 CA, FL, HI, ME, MI, MO, NV, OH, PA 343 9,465 27.6
1990–1991 9 CA, FL, HI, ME, MI, MO, NV, OH, PA 344 9,709 28.2
1991–1992 8 CA, FL, HI, ME, MI, MO, OH, PA 391 10,273 26.3
1992–1993 6 CA, FL, MI, MO, OH, PA 387 9,985 25.8
1993–1994 5 CA, HI, MO, OH, PA 412 10,562 25.6
1994–1995 7 CA, FL, HI, MO, NV, OH, PA 412 10,599 25.7
1995–1996 7 CA, FL, HI, MO, NV, OH, PA 430 10,238 23.8
1996–1997 8 CA, FL, HI, MI, MO, NV, OH, PA 442 10,528 23.8
1997–1998 8 CA, FL, MI, MO, NV, OH, PA, TX 549 13,247 24.1
1998–1999 9 CA, FL, HI, MI, MO, NV, OH, PA, TX 581 13,763 23.7
1999–2000 8 CA, FL, HI, MI, MO, OH, PA, TX 572 13,871 24.3
2000–2001 6 CA, FL, HI, MI, OH, PA 525 12,905 24.6
2001–2002 6 CA, FL, HI, IL, OH, PA 568 13,735 24.2
2002–2003 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 619 15,279 24.7
2003–2004 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 635 15,649 24.6
2004–2005 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 645 16,822 26.1
2005–2006 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 658 17,061 25.9
2006–2007 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 725 18,502 25.5
2007–2008 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 698 18,032 25.8
2008–2009 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 746 20,650 27.7
2009–2010 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 758 20,749 27.4
2010–2011 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 768 20,757 27.0
2011–2012 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 783 20,721 26.5
2012–2013 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 789 21,943 27.8
2013–2014 9 CA, DC, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 795 21,451 27.0
2014–2015 9 CA, DC, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 807 21,626 26.8
2015–2016 9 CA, DC, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 826 21,857 26.5
2016–2017 9 CA, DC, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 822 21,286 25.9
2017–2018 9 CA, DC, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 838 22,501 26.9
2018–2019 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 862 22,475 26.1
School year Number of
states
States* Number of
schools
Number of
participants
Average
squad size
Ref.

Girls' high school water polo

The National Federation of State High School Associations featured 21,735 girls in water polo teams in the 2018–19 school year.

Girls' high school water polo (1975–2019)
School year Number of
states
States# Number of
schools
Number of
participants
Average
squad size
Ref.
1975–1976 0 –– 0 0 ––
1977–1978 1 FL 28 372 13.3
1978–1979 1 FL 27 365 13.5
1979–1980 2 FL, UT 28 390 13.9
1980–1981 3 CA, FL, HI 30 282 9.4
1981–1982 4 CA, FL, IL, NV 33 879 26.6
1982–1983 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, NV, PA, UT 52 1,137 21.9
1983–1984 4 CA, FL, HI, NV 41 475 11.6
1984–1985 3 CA, FL, NV 32 424 13.3
1985–1986 5 CA, FL, NV, PA, UT 128 951 7.4
1986–1987 6 CA, FL, IL, NV, OH, PA 130 977 7.5
1987–1988 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, OH, PA, UT 61 874 14.3
1988–1989 7 CA, FL, HI, ME, OH, PA, UT 59 900 15.3
1989–1990 7 CA, FL, HI, ME, NV, OH, PA 59 869 14.7
1990–1991 7 CA, FL, HI, ME, NV, OH, PA 70 1,016 14.5
1991–1992 6 CA, FL, HI, MI, OH, PA 122 1,260 10.3
1992–1993 4 CA, FL, OH, PA 117 1,260 10.8
1993–1994 6 CA, FL, HI, MI, OH, PA 259 2,225 8.6
1994–1995 6 CA, FL, HI, NV, OH, PA 269 2,129 7.9
1995–1996 6 CA, FL, HI, NV, OH, PA 173 4,564 26.4
1996–1997 6 N/A 179 4,751 26.5
1997–1998 8 N/A 466 10,800 23.2
1998–1999 7 CA, FL, HI, MI, OH, PA, TX 506 11,628 23.0
1999–2000 7 CA, FL, HI, MI, OH, PA, TX 506 11,856 23.4
2000–2001 6 CA, FL, HI, MI, OH, PA 546 14,023 25.7
2001–2002 6 CA, FL, HI, IL, OH, PA 582 14,792 25.4
2002–2003 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 621 15,870 25.6
2003–2004 8 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, MO, OH, PA 629 16,362 26.0
2004–2005 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 668 17,241 25.8
2005–2006 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 678 17,442 25.7
2006–2007 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 716 17,791 24.8
2007–2008 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 712 17,773 25.0
2008–2009 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 740 18,418 24.9
2009–2010 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 745 18,592 25.0
2010–2011 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 762 18,603 24.4
2011–2012 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 785 18,749 23.9
2012–2013 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 775 18,674 24.1
2013–2014 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 784 18,899 24.1
2014–2015 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 805 19,204 23.9
2015–2016 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 827 20,230 24.5
2016–2017 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 831 20,826 25.1
2017–2018 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 844 21,054 24.9
2018–2019 7 CA, FL, HI, IL, MI, OH, PA 881 21,735 24.7
School year Number of
states
States# Number of
schools
Number of
participants
Average
squad size
Ref.
  1. Abbreviations: CA – California, FL – Florida, HI – Hawaii, IL – Illinois, ME – Maine, MI – Michigan, MO – Missouri, NV – Nevada, OH – Ohio, PA – Pennsylvania, TX – Texas, UT – Utah.

USA Water Polo Hall of Fame

See main article: USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.

The USA Water Polo Hall of Fame was established by the USA Water Polo in 1976 to honor players, coaches and officials who have contributed greatly to water polo in the United States.

See also

External links