> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sportsapipro.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Water Polo V2 API Overview

> Enhanced Water Polo API: 101 endpoints for live scores, leagues, teams, players, and more

## Base URL

```
https://api.sportsapipro.com/v2/waterpolo
```

## Authentication

All requests require the `x-api-key` header:

```bash theme={null}
curl -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  https://api.sportsapipro.com/v2/waterpolo/live
```

## About Water Polo

Water polo is a team sport played in a swimming pool with 7 players per side (6 field players + 1 goalkeeper). The API covers **11 categories** across Europe, South America, and international competitions with approximately **35 matches per day**.

### Match Structure

| Feature            | Detail                              |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------------- |
| **Players**        | 7 per side (6 field + 1 goalkeeper) |
| **Match Duration** | 4 × 8 minutes (stopped clock)       |
| **Shot Clock**     | 30 seconds per possession           |
| **Pool Size**      | 25–30m × 20m                        |
| **Overtime**       | Two 3-minute extra periods          |
| **Tiebreaker**     | Penalty shootout (5 shots each)     |

### Positions

| Position                      | Role                                                      |
| ----------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Goalkeeper**                | Only player allowed two-handed ball contact; wears cap #1 |
| **Center Forward / Hole Set** | Positioned in front of goal, back to goal                 |
| **Center Back / Hole D**      | Defends the center forward                                |
| **Wings**                     | Left and right wing positions                             |
| **Point**                     | Drives the offense (like point guard)                     |
| **Drivers/Utility**           | Versatile players                                         |

### Key Rules

* **Exclusion foul**: Player excluded for 20 seconds → team plays 6v7 (man-down)
* **Man-up / Power play**: Team with extra player after opponent exclusion
* **Penalty throw**: Direct shot from 5m for serious fouls
* **Brutality**: Player expelled for remainder of match (like red card)
* **Cap numbers**: #1 = starting goalkeeper, #13 = reserve goalkeeper

### Key Statistics

Goals, assists, saves, exclusions drawn/committed, man-up goals, penalty goals, steals, blocks, shot percentage.

## Endpoint Categories

| Category                  | Count | Description                                  |
| ------------------------- | ----- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Live & Schedule           | 7     | Real-time scores and daily schedules         |
| Search & Discovery        | 7     | Search teams, players, tournaments           |
| Tournament / League       | 22    | League tables, standings, knockouts          |
| Match                     | 22    | Full match data, lineups, stats, odds        |
| Team                      | 12    | Squads, form, media                          |
| Player                    | 18    | Career stats, transfers, national team stats |
| Manager / Referee / Venue | 13    | Coaches, officials, pools/aquatic centers    |

**Total: 101 endpoints**

## Major Leagues

* 🇮🇹 Italy — Serie A1
* 🇭🇺 Hungary — OB1
* 🇭🇷 Croatia — Championship
* 🌍 Champions League
* 🌐 FIFA — World Championships

## Example Requests

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -X GET "https://api.sportsapipro.com/v2/waterpolo/live" \
    -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
  ```

  ```javascript JavaScript theme={null}
  const response = await fetch(
    'https://api.sportsapipro.com/v2/waterpolo/live',
    { headers: { 'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY' } }
  );
  const data = await response.json();
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests

  response = requests.get(
      'https://api.sportsapipro.com/v2/waterpolo/live',
      headers={'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY'}
  )
  data = response.json()
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## UI Design Ideas

* **Score display**: Like handball: "Pro Recco 12-8 Brescia" — higher scoring than football
* **Quarter scores**: Always show Q1-Q4 breakdown (e.g., "3-2 / 4-1 / 2-3 / 3-2")
* **Exclusion counter**: Show team exclusion count — directly impacts gameplay
* **Man-up indicator**: Show "6 vs 7" or "Man-Up" for 20-second exclusion periods
* **Similar to handball UI**: Reuse handball patterns for scoring and stats display

## Season Info

* **European club season**: October–May
* **International calendar**: World Championships, European Championships
* Approximately **35 matches per day** during active periods

## Sport Comparison — Water Polo vs Football vs Basketball

| Feature          | Water Polo                        | Football               | Basketball           |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------- |
| Players per side | 7 (6 field + 1 goalkeeper)        | 11                     | 5                    |
| Playing surface  | Swimming pool (25-30m × 20m)      | Grass pitch            | Court                |
| Match duration   | 4 × 8 min (stopped clock)         | 2 × 45 min             | 4 × 10/12 min        |
| Scoring          | Goals (5-15 typical per team)     | Goals (0-5 typical)    | Points (80-120)      |
| Key actions      | Shots, exclusions, man-up plays   | Passes, shots, tackles | Dribbles, 3-pointers |
| Fouls            | Exclusion fouls (20-sec man-down) | Free kicks, cards      | Personal fouls       |
| Overtime         | Penalty shootout (5 shots each)   | Extra time + penalties | OT periods           |