Illustrated History of Olympic Water Polo

Water polo evolved into a sport more resembling soccer; it was played in lakes, rivers and pools. There are also reports of a game played in the water, with players sitting on floating barrels ("horses") and hitting a ball with a mallet. It also has origins in the US as "softball water polo" played with an unfilled bladder. The US version was a rough sport, filled with dunking, holding, jumping off of other players, and fights.

1888 - Founding of London Water Polo League with formal rules.

1897 - Formal rules were written by Harold Reeder of New York, aiming to decrease the violence of the US version of water polo.