1929: The technique of Water Polo

Article of the Argentinean Sports Newspaper “El Grafico” of 14 December 1929 about the technique of Water Polo written by professor Arturo Mund, coach of the Club El Refugio.

1955: R.N. Camogli - seven men and one title

The Sports magazin Sport illustrato presenting the victory of R.N.Camogli in the 1955 Italian Championship. "In festa tutta Camogli; Sette Uomini e uno scudetto" - "All Camogli celebrates - seven men and one title" .
Source: Sport illustrato - 22 September 1955

1923: Water Polo tactics by George Rigal

Tactical set up of Water Polo teams presented by George Rigal, Olympic Champion with the team of France in Paris 1924 Olympics.
Source: «Très SPORT» 1 August 1923. Courtesy of Mr. Pierre Vitalien

1890: First Water Polo match at N.Y.A.C

Extract from New York Times of December 7, 1890 presenting the first Water Polo game held at the New York Athletic Club: “ Ladies’ day events: The only novel feature of the occasion was a game of Water Polo played in the large swimming tank on the ground floor. It proved to be such a success that it is likely to be repeated. The game had never before played in this city, but it has been tried with much success in Providence and Boston...”
Source: New York Times; December 7, 1890.

1902: Women’s Water Polo in Yorkville, New York

Extract from the “Evening World – New York August 18, 1902): Girls Swimmers form Water Polo team and want to be challenged; There are many young women who are expert swimmers and up to a hard, long race, but until recently Water Polo was considered a sport entirely too strenuous for the strength and endurance of the fair sex. Water Polo is perhaps best described as a game in which the players almost drown each other.
And yet up at Alex Meffert’s Yorkville Baths, on the East River there are dozens girls who play Water Polo and play it well. Meffert who was an amateur champion and afterward coach and instructor of the famous Knickerbocker Athletic Club, has taught these girls the fine points of the game.......
Source: The Evening World – New York August 18, 1902

1942: The “Argentinean rules” in Chile

Extract from the magazine “El Grafico” of April 3rd, 1942: “Banco de la Nacion” brings the new Water Polo rules in Chile”; “The Argentinean style of playing is more clear, faster and spectacular. Spectators liked it since the game becomes mobile, with less fouls or fouls being punished severely.....”.
Source: El Grafico, 3 April 1942

1938: Wrestling Water ….Polo in USA

Article of the US magazine PIC of April 1938 presenting the Sport. “A thrown goal – The ball curved around over the goalie’s head and scored. A thrown goal counts two points; a touched goal counts three.
Source: magazine PIC, April 1938

1938: Wrestling Water ….Polo in USA

Article of the US magazine PIC of April 1938 presenting the Sport. “Tackling a Player by the costume is a personal foul and besides it could become very embarassing”.
“There is a little substituting and a period consists of 8 minutes of steady swimming. Hanging on the sides is forbidden. Only rest at the bottom”.
Source: magazine PIC, April 1938

1938: Wrestling Water ….Polo in USA

Article of the US magazine PIC of April 1938 presenting the Sport. “Kicking is barred – this fellow is merely gently “pushing” the other fellow in the face. Under the water, anything goes.”
“Water Polo is so rough a game that it has been discontinued by tyhe colleges. But the game is still popular at various swimming Clubs and YMCA’s”.
Source: magazine PIC, April 1938

1938: Wrestling Water ….Polo in USA

Article of the US magazine PIC of April 1938 presenting the Sport. “Defensemen toss around the right and left forwards as the goalie lifts the ball-carrier and throws him back and away from the goal.”
Source: magazine PIC, April 1938

1938: Wrestling Water ….Polo in USA

Article of the US magazine PIC of April 1938 presenting the Sport. “Instructions by Coach Roberts are passed on to the players. Water Polo is a fine developer of well set up bodies. Most players have tapering legs and barrel chests....”.
Source: magazine PIC, April 1938

1938: Wrestling Water ….Polo in USA

Article of the US magazine PIC of April 1938 presenting the Sport. “The defence is being blocked off as the ball-carrier fights his way through the goalie to touch the ball against the goal. The defenseman’s job is to drag him under and either yank the ball from him or apply torture holds until he releases it. When the ball floats clear, the players must stop playing rough".
Source: magazine PIC, April 1938

1938: Wrestling Water ….Polo in USA

Article of the US magazine PIC of April 1938 presenting the Sport. “While the two players on the left do the “big apple” the attacking forward scores a goal by swimming under the goalie and touching the goal with goal".
Source: magazine PIC, April 1938

1938: Wrestling Water ….Polo in USA

Article of the US magazine PIC of April 1938 presenting the Sport. “Water Polo is one of the toughest, most strenuous and most gruelling Sports known to man. It calls for the teamwork and science of hockey, the physique and knowledge of wrestling, the fierceness of lacrosse and the speed and endurance of a Marathon swim Champion. It is played by two teams of six players each and the object is to score the most points with a white rubber ball only seven eights inflated so that it can be held with one hand. The goals are wooden backboards".
Source: magazine PIC, April 1938

1970: Civitavecchia – Nervi 0-0

Extract of the Italian Sports newspaper “Gazzetta dello Sport” of 1970 presenting the report of the game between the teams of Civitavecchia and Nervi that ended with a no goal tie 0-0. This was the second time in the history of post 1946 Italian Championship that a Water Polo game ended with no goals from both sides.
Source: courtesy of Mr. Renato Gandolfi

1920, Antwerp: Crowds “booing”

During the final match in Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games, Belgium lost the final against the team of Great Britain with 3-2. Belgian fans, quite unhappy with the decisions of the Swedish referee started “booing” when the band played “God Save the King”. Extract of “The New York Times” of August 28, 1920 with title: Crowd at Olympics boos British Anthem. Victory of England in Water Polo game angers spectators. Apology is demanded....”
Source: The NYT archives