WATER POLO: FIELD HERE NOT WATERED DOWN LONG BEACH SITE FOR WORLD'S BEST.

Byline: Greg Mellen Staff Writer

LONG BEACH - To the uninitiated eye, the sport of water polo can be baffling at best - a cacophony of whistles, a maelstrom of nonstop motion and indecipherable signals by referees that look like handshakes for secret clubs.

Sometimes all the neophyte fan knows is what's most important. When the ball goes into the opponents' net it's time to jump up and cheer.

And although this alone might provide ample reason to attend a game, knowing at least some of the rules and tactics can make the action much more enjoyable.

Upon closer inspection - the underwater mugging that regularly occurs notwithstanding - water polo is an intricate game with carefully choreographed plays. The smart passing and aggressive defense that are required make it reminiscent of basketball.

This week, the best women's water polo players in the world will be on display as the Long Beach Aquatics Festival plays host to a FINA World League Superfinals, featuring the eight teams that will compete in the Olympics in Athens, Greece, this summer.

Action begins today and continues until Sunday.

``I've never brought someone out for the first time to watch a game who thought it wasn't worth watching,'' said Eric Velazquez, the director of media relations for U.S. Water Polo.

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