World Aquatics to Debut 4×4 Water Polo Format in September
World Aquatics last week announced plans to debut a new 4×4 water polo format starting in September.
The format, branded as WP4, will include four players per team on a smaller field of play and a shorter shot clock. It follows a trend with other – like rugby 7s and lacrosse 7s, both of which have been added to the Olympic docket – in miniaturizing the sport to make it more accessible.
The WP4 format, World Aquatics said in a press release, “is adaptable to both open water and urban areas, aiming to attract new audiences and broaden the sport’s appeal.”
From World Aquatics:
WP4 is a distinct discipline under World Aquatics, with four players per team, and is designed to offer a faster, more flexible, and globally accessible format for the sport. WP4 complements traditional water polo while creating new opportunities for athletes, federations, and event organisers, supporting the long-term global strategic growth of water polo.
World Aquatics envisions WP4 energising urban pools and waterfront arenas worldwide. The dynamic four-on-four format aims to attract new generations of fans and players, inspire communities, and advance water polo. Federations, athletes, and fans can help grow WP4 into a global platform where innovation and tradition thrive together.
The format will debut this year at the inaugural Water Polo 4×4 Open Championships in Dubrovnik, Croatia, from Aug. 31-Sept. 6. It will land in a city with a tradition of water polo history, including the Wild League open-water polo tournament in the Old Town harbor on the Adriatic Sea.
World Aquatics is issuing an open call to all member federations and masters club teams. The event in Croatia will feature an Elite National Team division as well as a Masters division for club and masters teams. Format details and qualification procedures will be published later in March.
