Water Polo: A Brief History

The game of water-polo has perhaps done more during recent years to popularise and to cause an interest to be taken in swimming than any other branch of the sport. It is essentially a game for swimmers, and one that affords no lack of opportunity for the exhibition of skill and the development of staying power. Its practice tends to improve the speed rates of all those who participate in the pastime, as well as to inculcate in the minds of its followers good ideas as to the best methods of obtaining command over the water. In long-distance swims only one style of swimming is, as a rule, adopted, but in water-polo the rapid changes of position which are necessary compel players to constantly alter their style. This is in itself a beneficial phase of the game, and one which teaches a swimmer how complete may become his power. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.