ABSTRACT
The present chapter aims at showing results and information about the published studies focused on home advantage (HA) in water polo. Although this effect exists in water polo, its intensity is lower than that of other invasion team sports. HA seems to be higher for minor water polo championships and for men’s competitions with respect to their competitive and gender counterparts. Differences in crowds, referee bias, or territorial protection associated with testosterone level seem to explain the gender difference, whereas there is no clear explanation for competition level. Moreover, HA varied according to the opposing team and game quarter and is proven only from an overall perspective in the case of the game outcome being already decided. Finally, an association between HA in water polo and the higher probabilities of goalscoring, counterattacking, and shooting from the left and central zones inside the 5-m area has also been verified.
