YARE WATER POLO | INTERNATIONAL REPORT

Seven Players in the Water. Why That Wasn't Always Possible in Para Water Polo

In 2024, Italy did not yet have enough athletes to introduce a seven-player formation into its domestic para water polo championship. Two years later, it is preparing to welcome Spain and Hungary for an international tournament in Potenza. Between those two moments lies a revealing story about the practical challenges of developing a team sport.

Seven players in the pool is a familiar sight in water polo. One goalkeeper, six outfield players, defined positions and combinations that shape every possession.

For para water polo in Italy, however, the possibility of adopting that formation had become a subject of discussion.

During an international tournament in Terrassa, Spain, in the summer of 2024, organisers experimented with seven-player teams. The Italian Paralympic Swimming Federation, FINP, considered the trial a potential direction for future domestic competition, while acknowledging that the available number of athletes was not sufficient to introduce the format at home.

The difficulty was not understanding how to play the game. It was having enough athletes to sustain the format across competing teams.

That distinction matters.

A sport can have regulations, technical expertise and committed people working on its development. But it also needs a sufficiently stable participation base for training to lead to competition and for competition to become a regular part of an athlete's life.

Why a domestic championship matters

Italy already has an organised para water polo competition structure.

The sixth national championship took place in 2026, with Gold and Silver divisions. Lazio Nuoto won the Gold title, while Octopus Roma secured the Silver championship.

The FINP calendar also includes the Italian Cup and Supercoppa.

For an athlete, having competitions throughout the year is not simply an organisational benefit. It creates opportunities to train towards specific objectives, gain match experience and measure progress against opponents.

How frequently athletes compete, how many take part and whether new teams are entering the sport are questions that require systematic monitoring.

The existence of a national championship confirms that an organised competition structure is in place. It does not automatically establish that opportunities to participate are sufficient or equally accessible across the country.

Cooperation developed through competition

Italy and Spain have already established a working relationship in para water polo.

In 2024, alongside the international tournament in Terrassa, discussions took place concerning athlete classification methods. Italian technical director Mario Giugliano and classification specialist Antonella Galvan were involved in exchanges addressing matters that directly affect how competitions are organised.

Classification is an essential part of para sport. It establishes eligibility conditions and helps create a competitive framework that accounts for the functional impact of eligible impairments.

When countries operate under different approaches, organising international matches becomes more complicated.

On July 4, 2026, in Terrassa, the Italian and Spanish federations signed a cooperation protocol covering shared regulations and athlete classification criteria.

The agreement does not grant para water polo official status within the Paralympic Games programme, nor does it establish a unified global governing body.

It does represent a concrete step towards closer cooperation between two countries that have already gained practical experience competing and working together.

Potenza 2026: Three countries on the schedule

From October 16 to 18, Potenza will host an international tournament featuring Italy, Spain and Hungary.

Italy has selected a squad of 22 athletes representing clubs from different parts of the country, including Lazio Nuoto, Waterpolo Napoli Lions, Pallanuoto Trieste and Crazy Waves Pisa.

Mario Giugliano leads the technical staff.

Three matches are scheduled.

A Croatian delegation will also attend the event, although no Croatian team has been announced among the competitors.

From a sporting perspective, the tournament provides another opportunity for international competition.

However, the publicly available information is not yet sufficient to make a reliable comparison of the three teams' competitive levels or produce individual player scouting reports.

Such an assessment would require match footage, confirmed lineups, information about tactical decisions and a clear understanding of the regulations applied during competition.

What does it really take to play water polo?

There is an aspect of para water polo development that cannot be measured through scores and standings alone.

To participate, an athlete needs an accessible facility, appropriate training, teammates, coaching and a club capable of entering competitions.

Regular opportunities to compete are equally important.

An international tournament can provide valuable experience. It cannot replace an entire season of consistent training and competitive matches.

At YARE, we believe the development of the discipline also deserves to be examined through these everyday realities.

How many athletes have access to organised clubs? How often do they compete? How do coaches address different sporting requirements? What opportunities exist for someone who wants to start playing?

Answering those questions requires original reporting and, above all, listening to the athletes themselves.

A development worth following

The seven-player experiment in Terrassa in 2024, the continuation of domestic competitions and the 2026 agreement between Italy and Spain represent different aspects of the same development process.

Potenza adds another international competition to that picture.

Whether these efforts lead to more clubs, greater athlete participation and more frequent international fixtures remains an open question.

Progress can be examined through measurable developments, reliable information and the experiences of the people directly involved.

Behind the seemingly ordinary sight of seven players in a swimming pool is a more complicated challenge: creating the conditions that allow more people to take part in the sport.

YARE Water Polo Media | International Report | October 9, 2026