Basic Understanding of Junior Water Polo Rules

Water Polo is an international team water sport, which can be best described as a combination of handball, swimming, and rugby. It is played by two teams of six players, five field players and one goal keeper. Game play involves swimming, treading water (using a kicking motion known as “eggbeater kick”), players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing the ball into a net defended by the goal keeper. To score, players throw the ball into the opponent’s goal which floats on the water. Apart from the goalkeeper, who is allowed to touch the bottom of the pool in the goalkeeper’s area, players cannot touch the bottom of the pool in any active part of the game.

Number of players per team:

6 (1 goalie and 5 field players) in the water and up to 5 substitutes.

Cap Numbers:

Water Polo players are not assigned cap numbers by position. Players are numbered 1-13 with number 1 or 13 identified in red as the Goal Keeper.

Length of game:

about 45 minutes – 75 minutes 4 x 7-minute quarters with a 30 second shot clock (A division only)

Running time, continue main clock (30 shot clock to always stop-start)

Actual time, stop-start main clock

Many games will use a format of 7 minute running time per quarter or 5 to 8 actual (5 minutes actual is approximately 8min real time, and 8min running is approximately 12-15minutes real time)

There are two minute intervals between time periods with a five minute break at half time. 

Scoring:

1 point per goal.

A goal is scored when the entire ball passes full over the goal line, between the goal posts and underneath the cross bar. A goal may be scored from anywhere within the field of play, however, the goal keeper may not touch the ball beyond the half way mark. A goal may be scored by any part of the body except a clenched fist.

Pool Markings

• white cones — goal line and halfway
• red cones — 2m lines
• yellow cones — 5m lines
• Sides of the field of play are marked red from goal line to 2m, yellow from 2m to 5m and green from 5m to halfway. A red mark is placed 2m from each end to denote the re-entry area.

Starting the Game

At the start of each period players take up positions on their respective goal lines about one metre apart and no closer than one metre from the goal posts. A referee will blow the whistle to start the game and then release a ball into play in the middle of the pool.

Team Changes and Substitutions

Each team consists of six players (including a goal keeper), and not more than five reserves who may be used as substitutes. All players not in the game at the time sit on the team bench situated on the side of the pool. At any time in the game a player may be substituted by leaving the field of play with the exception of when a referee awards a penalty.

Basic Strategy of the Game:

Water polo is a team sport that mixes the best aspects of soccer, basketball, and hockey. Like soccer, goalies defend a large netted goal. Water polo players are allowed to use only one hand at a time to pass or shoot the ball. Like basketball, there are fast breaks and a set offense that uses a centre forward that can either make powerful offensive shots or dish passes off to players driving towards the goal. Driving, setting picks, and working to get inside lanes (inside water) is very reminiscent of basketball.

“Centre Forwards” tend to be big because they need to plant themselves in front of the goal without being pushed out. Guard-like “drivers” tend to be smaller, quicker, and good ball handlers, and outside shooters (like 3-point shooters in basketball) have good arms to peg the high corners of the goal with accuracy whenever a defender sloughs off to cover a driver breaking towards the goal. Like hockey, water polo is a physical game and players can be temporarily ejected in a “penalty box” for short periods of time (20 seconds) if the referee deems it necessary. Occasionally, if possession is contested there can be a “face off” between two players to decide who regains possession of the ball.

Fouls & Free Throws

There are several different types of fouls which the referee will not permit including; ordinary fouls, exclusion fouls, penalty fouls, and personal fouls. In the event of a foul the referee may award a free throw or penalty throw or exclusion. 

Ordinary Fouls: Water polo fouls are far more common than in any other sport and are part of the fabric of the game. Ordinary fouls are frequently committed and the referee will blow the whistle and award the ball to the opposing team. After a foul is whistled, the team with the ball is allowed a “free throw”. Any offensive player can pick up the ball and has three seconds to put the ball in play without interference from the defender (the ball must be outside the point of the foul before it can be put back in play). After a foul, the ball normally can’t be shot at the goal until it has been passed to another player. An exception to this is if a foul is committed outside the 5-meter line (yellow cone), then a quick shot is allowed (except in 14&U age groups). Good referees call fouls immediately whenever there is unreasonable contact of any kind and are usually so eager to keep the game “clean” that a whistle is blown almost every 15 seconds.

Refs do their best to keep the game flowing and will often choose to ignore fouls committed away from the action so as not to prevent scoring opportunities.

Ordinary fouls include:

• Grabbing, sinking or reaching over the shoulder or upper body of a player that is not holding the ball. If the offensive player lifts the ball or has a hand on top of the ball, reaching over & sinking are not fouls.
• Kicking, splashing water in the face (exclusion) pushing off a player with hands or feet(foul)
• Touching the ball with two hands (except goalie), pushing off the bottom of pool
• Ball pushed under water when under attack (pick up ball underneath to avoid!)

Exclusion Fouls:

Exclusion fouls result in a temporary 20-second ejection (also called a “kickout”) in the penalty box. If a player gets three major fouls, they are ejected from the entire game. For U14s the player needs to swim into penalty box, put their head up and then can return to the game.

• Reaching aggressively over the head (especially defending the CF)
• Blatant, aggressive fouls committed away from the action (for example, grabbing an ankle when someone is trying to swim away).
• Interfering with a free throw (defender must allow at least three feet of space and step back a metre to do this)
• Field player blocking with two hands (ejection if outside 5m, penalty shot inside 5m)
• Illegal substitution (player must fully exit field of play before new player can get in)
• Disrespect to the referee including foul language, contesting a call, or even scowling (this is at the referee’s discretion and most are extremely strict).

Penalty Foul – a foul committed by a defender when the opposing player is in a scoring position inside 5 metres (like fouling a “driver” or the CF if they have “inside water”). A penalty shot is awarded and player excluded.

Penalty Shots:

Penalty shots are taken from 5 metres directly in front of the goal. The referee will award a penalty if a major foul is committed when someone is in strong, imminent, scoring position in front of the goal (for example: if the hole man or a driver has the ball and also controls “inside water” within 5 metres of the goal, and the defender comes over their back). Also, if a goalie sinks the ball while under attack, or a field player blocks with two hands a penalty shot will be awarded.

Playing Positions

Goal Keeper (GK)

The person playing this position has a vital defensive role while also supporting their teammates when on the offensive attack. For example, in a counter attack, the goal keeper would be responsible for distributing the ball down the pool. Once a pass is made from the keeper to another player on the team, the keeper will often egg beater to about the 5m mark and be ready for a potential return pass. Goal keepers must always be aware of their position relative to the ball, so being aware of where the ball is even when it is on the other side of the pool is important as the keeper needs to be in the optimal position. It’s also important for goal keepers to stay engaged in the game as they often have the best vision of the entire pool and play an important role in communicating what they see to their teammates. For example, if there is a player open down the pool that the ball handler does not see, then it is the goalkeeper’s responsibility to yell it out and keep teammates informed and aware.

Centre Forward (CF)

The centre forward position is on the 2m line (but not inside of 2 at any time). The outer positions (such as points, wings and drivers) are responsible for getting the ball into the CF. Balls are usually passed into the CF using a wet pass. There, the CF will either take the ball and shoot or draw a foul. The CF position will usually be played by one person more, as opposed to switching positions, due to the strength and skills required.

Centre Back (CB)

A centre back is a player who defends the CF. The CB’s main aim is to prevent the CF from scoring, often deliberately committing ordinary fouls. The CB may be supported by the other team members by calling a zone or may defend one-on-one in a press situation.

Drivers

These positions do the most swimming and often change positions several times during a single play. Drivers are constantly creating movement by driving down to the goal post and rotating around, or creating screens in order to free teammates of their defenders. Their main job is to get the ball into the CF. Their proximity to the goal and their position relative to the CF make them invaluable components for scoring goals.

Utility

Utility players are those players who are comfortable playing all positions. The utility players are the strongest players in the team, who swap places with other players whenever there is an opportunity to score. Utility players are most effective when they drive in and play CF and quickly.

Modifications for U14s

• Participation. Every player must play 1 quarter of the first 2 quarters and no substitutions can be made outside the designated team swapping time. This rule will be in place for all players on the team except in the instances of injury, a player being fouled out, or a player being incapable of playing that duration.
• Defence. Teams must play a press defence when they are in their defensive half of the field.
• Exclusion. There is no timeframe applied. The excluded player must swim to the ejection box, surface, and then can re-enter.
• No 5m foul shot. Players can not shoot the ball after receiving a minor foul. The ball must be live for a shot to be taken.
• Rotation. In set attack, if the centre forward receives a minor foul in the CF position, they and the centre back marking them must both swim out of the centre forward position to allow for a different centre forward and centre back pairing to come into the now vacant centre forward position.