# Water Polo Stats **URL:** \ **Category:** Analytics\ **Created:** [January 9, 2025, 11:54pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861 "2025-01-09T23:54:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GameOnLiveStudio](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/waterpoloexchange.com/gameonlivestudio/32/241_2.png) [@GameOnLiveStudio](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/GameOnLiveStudio)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 11:54pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/1 "2025-01-09T23:54:06Z")
GOLS is working on bringing to life the story of water polo & we want your input! What are some stats that you’d like to see talked about on live streams or when people are covering the sport? What stats matter? What stats don’t? ---
**Author:** ![iknownothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e274bd/32.png) [@iknownothing](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/iknownothing)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 12:14am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/2 "2025-01-10T00:14:42Z")
I think these are most basic needed stats Goals Assists Turnovers Steals Field blocks Exclusions Exclusions drawn ---
**Author:** ![WaterPolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@WaterPolo](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/WaterPolo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 12:23am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/3 "2025-01-10T00:23:30Z")
One stat that matters a lot are passes that lead to an exclusion. Particularly entry passes into set which often times are extremely skillful and determine outcome of games! ---
**Author:** ![Getit2theset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@Getit2theset](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Getit2theset)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 11:44am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/5 "2025-01-10T11:44:07Z")
Agreed on this - I know, shocking given my handle here!🤽‍♂️ On that note however, given the importance of 6v5 offense and therefore 5v6 defense (when asked every player or coach from HS on up, inevitably brings this up) these would also be good to see. Games against evenly matched teams, this is often the difference maker. Moreover, as the game goes on, the team that’s struggling with 6v5 offense usually starts pressing (mentally) in other areas. Conversely, the team doing well on 5v6 defense gets a confidence boost. ---
**Author:** ![Marco](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/waterpoloexchange.com/marco/32/290_2.png) [@Marco](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Marco)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 12:32pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/6 "2025-01-10T12:32:54Z")
The one I would add to what has been noted above is: Shots on Goal. ---
**Author:** ![Mepolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Mepolo](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Mepolo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 1:24pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/7 "2025-01-10T13:24:38Z")
Offensive fouls. Nothing worse than giving up a possession due to carelessness/frustration. ---
**Author:** ![Gibson](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/waterpoloexchange.com/gibson/32/316_2.png) [@Gibson](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Gibson)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/8 "2025-01-10T17:45:53Z")
Saves! Give the goalies some love ---
**Author:** ![Limey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/waterpoloexchange.com/limey/32/108_2.png) [@Limey](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Limey)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/9 "2025-01-10T18:05:19Z")
I would like to see a separation of drawn penalty and drawn exclusion stats. Often the drawn penalties are reported together with drawn exclusions. I also feel that the drawn penalty should be rewarded as .5 of goal and the penalty scorer should get the other .5, but that’s a different conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Gibson](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/waterpoloexchange.com/gibson/32/316_2.png) [@Gibson](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Gibson)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/10 "2025-01-10T19:12:35Z")
Nah, give them an assist. ---
**Author:** ![cmbreeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@cmbreeze](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/cmbreeze)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/13 "2025-01-14T00:11:06Z")
For field players, I record the following: missed shots goals [goals/(goals plus missed shots) = shooting percentage] assists steals exclusions earned exclusions suffered turnovers field blocks ---
**Author:** ![H20Polo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/67e7ee/32.png) [@H20Polo](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/H20Polo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 12:53am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/14 "2025-01-14T00:53:26Z")
I would track goals by the following 5-meter goals and shots missed 6 on 6 Goals 6 on 5 Goals Total shooting % Coaches value these categories differently. ---
**Author:** ![cmbreeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@cmbreeze](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/cmbreeze)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/15 "2025-01-14T01:32:37Z")
Good point, @H20Polo. For team management/team success, knowing how your team performs in 5x6 and 6x5 is critical, but I find this does not easily flow into individual stats (which are pretty simple to track for stats-keepers who can be within ear shot of the match secretaries). If @GameOnLiveStudio can track this and include it in their in-game color commentary, it would be amazing. ---
**Author:** ![CoachMCH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CoachMCH](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/CoachMCH)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/16 "2025-01-14T19:54:04Z")
I think separating missed shots into missed shots (those that miss the cage) and missed shots on goal (those that require a save) is important. Also, I’d love to see assists expanded like hockey to assist and pass to assist. It’s a little granular but good information. ---
**Author:** ![Rational](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Rational](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Rational)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/17 "2025-01-15T22:07:21Z")
For 6x5 goals, I would extend the window past 20 seconds to “count” a 6x5 goal as it takes time for the defense to recover (_maybe 25 seconds?_) ex: exclusion at 5:40 ----- goal at 5:17 - while past the :20 second mark, that was for all intensive purposes a 6x5 score. Also, saves and assists are very subjective - some statisticians see 29 shots and 15 goals and attribute the goalie with 14 saves, then at the end of the year they flaunt their inflated numbers for conference awards. Any way to police that is welcomed. ---
**Author:** ![Rational](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Rational](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Rational)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 10:19pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/18 "2025-01-15T22:19:21Z")
Side note - it would be interesting to built a “Star” metric for HS recruits, like you hear about 5 star recruits in basketball and football - bring that over to water polo Olympian / Sr. National Team training group = 5 star Youth / Junior Team selection = 4 star Youth NTSC Attendee / Academy attendee / starter on top 10 team at 16/18s JOs = 3 star At JOs: Top 16 in Platinum or top 3 in Gold = 2 star Everyone else = 1 star Tough to incorporate for foreign players though. Maybe this ranking would exacerbate the “top 4” lack of parity but it could also show the coaches that do the most with the least as opposed to who’s handed success on a silver platter. ---
**Author:** ![WPpops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7cd45c/32.png) [@WPpops](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/WPpops)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/19 "2025-01-15T22:59:39Z")
That would be interesting but typically it is an individual evaluation and not a team based metric. In other sports it is not a reflection of the team results. Wouldn’t the 17th team in platinum be better than the 3rd in gold, ie. 27th place team? ---
**Author:** ![Rational](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Rational](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Rational)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 11:11pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/20 "2025-01-15T23:11:39Z")
Maybe, really luck of the seeding, typical finish / record for the places are (yes there’s different paths to get there): 3rd in Gold = W L L … W W … W … L W 17th in Pt = W L W … L L L … W L … W It’s the day 2-3 results that are so different, Day 1 is very seeding dependent. If you have an easy schedule on day 1, you get exposed on day 2-3. Maybe its Gold 1-3 is better than Pt 20-24. ---
**Author:** ![WPpops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7cd45c/32.png) [@WPpops](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/WPpops)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/21 "2025-01-16T00:52:33Z")
Agree there are a lot of variables across the board. Scouts make star determination of individuals and likely the best way to remove as much of that as possible, though misevaluations still will happen. ---
**Author:** ![wp2024](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a5b964/32.png) [@wp2024](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/wp2024)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/22 "2025-01-18T19:37:24Z")
Before adding more variables it would be advised to get to a level of excellence in tracking basic stat. I am at the regional ODP and 6-8 is doing a horrendous job in tracking basic stat like ED , steals , who actually took the swim-off. Disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![Getit2theset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@Getit2theset](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Getit2theset)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 3:14am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861/23 "2025-01-19T03:14:13Z")
I’m here as well. And agree. It’s frustrating for sure. The reffing is also… interesting. [Next page](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/water-polo-stats/861.md?page=2)