Water Polo Rules
Game Duration
Water polo game consists of four periods of 7 minutes each; time stops when the ball is out of play.
Scoring
A team may score a goal from anywhere from within the field of play, although the goalie may not touch the ball beyond the half distance line or go beyond the line himself. A field player may score a goal from any part of his body except clenched fist. Two players, excluding the goalkeeper must have intentionally touched the ball for the goal to count.
After a goal is scored and all the players are back to their respective halves of the pool, the referee whistles the ball into the play. The player of the team who has just scored the goal will put the ball into the play by passing it to the teammate; the teammate may be forward, backward or to the side of the passer. The time begins when the player releases the ball.
Fouls
There are three types of fouls in water polo which are enumerated as under:-
- Ordinary Foul- It occurs when the players violate minor rules. These fouls include: usage of both hands, impeding the hand and pushing the opponent team player, meter violation; shot clock violation.
- Exclusion Foul (Kickout)- This accounts to more serious violations of the rule. It is also known as ‘playing the player, not the ball’. The violation results in the exclusion of the player from the play until 20 seconds have been passed, possession has changed or a goal has been scored.
- Penalty Foul (4-Meter)- It is called inside the 4-meter line, in which the goal was possible if the foul had not been committed. The foul results in a penalty shot from the 4-meter line.
Penalty Shot
The penalty shot takes place when the defending player has made a major foul in his 4m zone. It can be made by any of the player of the attacking team except the goalie. The player immediately throws the ball towards the net upon the referee’s signal in an uninterrupted motion, and if the ball rebounds off the goalie or the goalpost, it is in play and the game continues.
