Treading water: Water polo team looks to expand
USU welcomed a water polo team to its club sports family last September.
Katie Gaumaunt, a sophomore majoring in astrophysics, launched the club sport because she missed playing in high school and wanted to give past members an opportunity to continue and a chance for people to try the sport.
There are seven players on the field, six field players and a goalkeeper. Teams are given 30 seconds of possession unless they make a shot on goal, in which case the time is reset back to 30 seconds.
The only player allowed to hold the ball with both their hands and stand in the shallow end is the goalkeeper. Considered one of the most violent sports, especially due to past games in the Olympics, rules have become stricter to prevent injury.
There is a range of 13 to 14 players who play each week, and they all love the experience.
“A lot of people like it because it’s organized, and when you get there you have a lot of fun,” Gaumaunt said.
Despite the sport’s global popularity, many people are hesitant to join or are unaware USU has a water polo team.
“We would like to expand, but it’s difficult because people think it’s too violent, which isn’t true or they don’t have enough time,” Gaumaunt said. “We haven’t advertised much because we don’t have the time. The best way of advertisement so far has been either word-of-mouth or Day on the Quad.”
Gaumaunt said even if students don’t know much about the sport or even know how to swim well, the team will train new members before practice and on techniques to utilize.
“We go all levels. We don’t care. We’ll take the time to teach them,” Gaumaunt said.
The team meets every Tuesday from 7:30-9 p.m. and every other Saturday at 9:30-11 a.m. at the HPER pool. It costs $60 to join, which covers pool time and lifeguards. The term “dry land” refers to their workouts on land such as running, weight lifting and pushups.
They swim laps as a warmup and then play scrimmages. There are no tournaments planned.
“I find you get to know a lot of people, and it becomes an extended family at the end,” Gaumaunt said. “It’s mostly guys right now and I feel like I have a lot of brothers, and it’s just a good atmosphere. Don’t be afraid of the sport. Just try it.”
– tiffany.farfan@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @farfantiffany