Water basketball is a water sport which mixes rules of basketball and water polo. Ideated and promoted by Italian teacher Francesco Rizzuto in 1986; it is played in a swimming pool. Teams of five players each must shoot at goal with a ball within a certain time after gaining possession.

In USA, Brazil, and Europe, some amatorial matches are organized to develop this sport.

In 2005, the Italian Federation of Basketball recognized it as a form of basketball.

In the Netherlands, people have been playing waterbasketbal since the 1970s. Besides regular tournaments, they also organize a national championship where the best teams compete for the official Dutch Waterbasketbal championship title