Underwater Football

Underwater Football Rules

• The playing area has a length of 15 meters with a width of 10 meters and a depth of 3-5 meters. The sideline is usually of 1-3 meters in width. 
• The matches are played between two teams with 13 players each, where 5 players participate and play inside the pool and rest of the players act as substitutes. The players can only be substituted when there's a pause during the match. 
• All the players are required to wear designated swimsuits with playing numbers marked distinctly along with coloured tape on their wrists and ankle. Both the teams are required to wear distinct coloured suits.
• The players are also required to wear goggles and drive mask, along with snorkel and swimming fins (monofins or pair of fins). The fins and snorkel shouldn't have any sharp edges which might injure other players. 
• The players are not allowed to wear watches, rings or any other jewellery. They are also not allowed to have long fingernails.
• The matches are played for 23 minutes with two equal 10-minute halves and three minutes break in between the game. 
• If the match ended up with a tie, then an extra 10-minute elongated period is provided to determine the winner from either team. 
• Before the beginning, all the players have to position themselves behind the goal-line, touching the wall. The ball is placed at the centre of the playing field where no other player can reach before the start signal.
• Any player who has offended other player or the referees; is directly exiled from the match. These players aren't allowed to substitute by other players.
• The players are entirely prohibited from holding other players during the match. The players from any team are also restricted to pull or throw other players' equipment such as mask, fins etc. If found guilty, the players are usually assessed with a minor penalty.
• If any player is injured, then they can be removed from the rest of the match. The player can also be substituted for significant injury.
• If the ball falls from the player's hand or knocked down on the pool, then the match gets interrupted, and the defensive team got the opportunity to strike the ball first. The attacking team at this moment have to provide a halfway for the opposing team.