Fish out of water. Salary: $0

You sign up for water polo because you want to get in shape and polo players look so fit and trim. The first five minutes a defender pushes you under and you black out. Bummer, you didn't realize you needed to know how to swim to play this game.

Minnow-status. Salary: $0

The game is tied and you're playing goalie in the championship. Your team is about to beat the NCAA record for most consecutive games won. He shoots, you go for it and…the ball hits you in the head, knocks you out, and goes into the net. Uh-Oh.

A regular Nemo. Salary: $0

You're about to get that primo spot on the Division I high school's Varsity team that will take you straight to the JO's, where top colleges will see you and want to recruit you. Too bad your Dad's company transfers him and you have to switch schools. Thanks to NCAA rules, this means you'll have to sit the year out.

Are you sure you're not a barracuda? Salary: $0 (unless you count the possibility of a scholarship)

Your school wins the league championship. Your mom and dad are so proud, and you have dreams of going to Stanford to play polo on scholarship. Your next stop is the Olympics. Too bad you're only in a Division III school.

Pretty much a mermaid. Salary: $60,000+

You're a goalie on the Olympic Team and by some miracle, you win. Hooray, enjoy your ten seconds of fame. Now you have the clout to open up a water polo school on the beach in Malibu. You get to play polo without any pressure, and can stop eggbeatering to let your knees heal. Life is good.