Rules of water polo

[3] During game play, players enter and exit in the corner of the pool (called the re-entry area), or in front of their goal.

A variation is Beach water polo, which has four players including the goal keeper, and a smaller field, and some other differing rules.

[6][7] The water polo cap is used to protect the players' heads and ears, and the numbers on them (1-13) make them identifiable from afar, especially by the referee(s).

There is no overtime nor ties in international water polo, and games proceed to a shootout if a victor is required.

The game clock is stopped when the ball is not in play (between a foul being committed and the free throw being taken, and between a goal being scored and the restart).

A team may not have possession of the ball for longer than 30 seconds[10] without shooting for the goal unless an opponent commits an ejection foul.

Minimum water depth must be least 1.8 meters (6 feet), but this is often not the case due to nature of the pool (as many have shallow ends).

Water polo balls are generally yellow and of varying size and weight for juniors, women and men.

Water polo is an intensely aggressive sport, so fouls are very common and result in a free throw during which the player cannot shoot at the goal unless outside the 6 meter line.

If a foul is called outside the 6 meter line, the player may either shoot (in one movement, ie without faking), pass or continue swimming with the ball.

From a corner, which also has to be taken without delay (again time limit not specified in the rules), the player can swim with the ball, shoot at goal or pass.

When the goalie blocks a shot, the defense may gain control of the ball, and make a long pass to a teammate who stayed on his offensive end of the pool when the rest of his team was defending.

[13] Three short whistles are blown by the referee at 45 seconds (after a prompt from the scorers on the scoring table) during the timeout, and he/she waves the attacking players forward into the opponents’ half.

A substitute can enter the pool from any place during the intervals between quarters, after a goal has been scored, during a timeout and to replace an injured player; but not after a penalty.

Water polo referees utilize red and yellow cards when handling bench conduct.

[13] Ordinary fouls occur when a player impedes or otherwise prevents the free movement of an opponent who is not holding the ball, but has it in or near their possession.

The attacker must make a free pass without undue delay (time period not specified in the rules) to another offensive player.

There are quite a few other infringements that lead to an ordinary foul, including standing if there is a shallow end, delaying taking a throw (free, goal or corner), taking a penalty throw incorrectly, touching the ball with two hands (if not the goalkeeper), simulating being fouled, time-wasting, and being within two metres of the goal.

The player must move to their re-entry area without impacting the natural game play and in reasonable time (or a penalty is given).

In addition to the exclusion, a penalty shot is also awarded to the opposing team if the foul occurs during actual play.

If a defender commits a major foul within the six meter area that prevents a likely goal, the attacking team is awarded a penalty throw or shot.

According to the FINA rule changes in 2019, the referee no longer has any discretion in awarding a penalty (e.g., taking into account whether a goal was likely or not).

The referee signals with a whistle and by lowering his arm, and the player taking the penalty shot must immediately throw the ball with an uninterrupted motion toward the goal (i.e., without pumping or faking).

[15][16] There are quite a few other infringements that can lead to a penalty: a player that has been excluded interfering with the game as they exit the pool, an excluded player entering the pool without a signal from the referee (or scoring table), a player or substitute exiting or entering the pool incorrectly (during game time, e.g., lifting the rope), a brutality foul, a coach or captain requesting a time out when not in possession of the ball, and a coach delaying the return of the ball.

Differing from FINA rules which require shootouts, NCAA rules require teams to play two three-minute overtime periods, and if still tied play additional three-minute sudden death periods until a team scores a goal and wins the game.

Tournament hosts can modify their rules to incorporate regulation, such as sudden death immediately following 4 periods of the game, or a shoot-out.

Because water polo is a fast, high scoring game, several officials are required: (ideally) two referees, a secretary, two game/shot clock operator(s), and two goal judges.

When goal judges are not present or available, the referee(s) may take their place in that they have the decision as to whether the ball has crossed the line etc.

Referees have dress codes at higher (and sometimes lower) levels of water polo, and are expected to abide by this.

Timekeepers are essentially responsible for keeping record of: the current score (though this is done more officially by the secretary), the 30 second clock, the length of the quarters (at the end of each quarter they indicate this with a whistle blow if this is not done synthetically), the time of exclusion (and when re-entry is thus allowed), the length of timeouts, the length of time between periods and to signal (if not done synthetically) by whistle 30 seconds before the end of quarter or half time and 15 seconds before the end of a timeout.