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Rules for Intramural Sports

Water Polo

The Game Rules

  1. Players:
    1. A team must start with 7 players.
    2. Each team must have 3 women and 4 men or 4 women and 3 men at all times.
    3. You may finish with less than 7 players due to an injury.
  2. Length of Game: two 15-minute halves with a 3 minute half time. Teams change ends between halves and at the start of an overtime period (which runs 3 minutes).
    1. During the regular pool play there will be no overtime.
  3. To start play, the teams line up at opposite ends of the pool with ONE HAND on the edge of the pool. All players must sit in their tubes. You cannot put the tube around your body. The official holds the ball at mid-pool, dropping it in the water, as the players propel themselves toward the ball in their innertubes. Players cannot remove their hand from the wall until the ball is dropped and the official sounds the whistle.
  4. Procedure #3 is repeated at the start of the second half and any overtime period.
  5. Following a goal, the official awards the ball to the scored-upon team’s goalie. THE BALL MUST BE GIVEN TO THE OFFICIAL so that teams gain balanced positioning before the ball is re-entered into the game. The official will blow a whistle to begin.
  6. Time outs: each team is allowed two 30-second time outs per game. Any team in CONTROL OF THE BALL may call a time out. The game will be played with a running clock except for time outs.
  7. Substitution: can only be made during time outs, after a goal, or between halves. In the case of an illegal substitution, the first time will result in a warning, and the second will result in a foul.
  8. Goalkeeper Area: extends 2 meters from the end of the pool and runs the entire width of the pool; it is off limits to the offensive and defensive (except goalie) team members. Any goal scored from within this area is disallowed. If a player (other than the goalie) is in this area it is a loss of possession or penalty throw (the official must handle the ball at the change of possession). The area will be marked by cones.
  9. Penalty Area: 4 meters from the end of the pool. Marked by a cone on the side of the pool.
  10. Scoring: If the shooter’s head is located inside the 4 meter line the goal shall count for one point; if the shooter’s head is located on or outside the 4 meter line the goal shall count for two points. The official will notify the scorer when a goal is worth two points. THE SHOOTER MUST REMAIN IN THE TUBE OR THEIR GOAL IS DISALLOWED (after scoring, a person’s momentum may take them out of their tube). An automatic point is awarded to the opposing team for every four fouls (can be technical, personal, or major) accrued.
  11. Out of Bounds: The team whose player last touches the ball, causing it to go outside the pool loses possession. The opponent nearest the point where the ball left the playing area puts it back into play with a free throw.
  12. FREE THROWS: (indirect) - A FREE THROW SHALL NOT BE INTERFERED WITH.
    1. Are awarded for technical fouls.
    2. The player on the offended team nearest the spot of the foul puts the ball into play by passing to a teammate. The official must handle the ball before the free throw is taken.
    3. Like an indirect kick in soccer, the free throw cannot be thrown directly into the goal. If thrown into the goal, the ball is awarded to the opposing team. One pass must be completed before a shot can be taken.
    4. If a technical foul is committed in the goalkeeper’s area, or the ball goes out of bounds by the goalie, the opposing team will have a free throw at the side of the pool closest to the foul on the 2 meter mark.
    5. A face off is awarded if 2 fouls are committed simultaneously. A face off consists of 2 players back to back 2 feet apart. The ball is placed between them and when the referee signals, possession.
  13. TECHNICAL FOULS: The offending team loses possession and the opponents are awarded a free throw: (penalty throw is not applicable)
    1. Any player, including the goalkeeper, holds onto the ball under water or has it resting on their lap.
    2. The goalkeeper throws more than HALF the length of the pool.
    3. An offensive player is inside the goalkeeper’s area (offside).
    4. The goalkeeper maintains possession of the ball more than 10 seconds or receives a return pass from the same teammate more than twice consecutively.
    5. A defensive player is inside the goalkeeper’s area.
    6. A player maintains possession of the ball for more than 10 seconds.
  14. PENALTY THROWS:
    1. Are awarded to the offensive team when one of its players in control of the ball is fouled within the 4 meter penalty area.
    2. Are awarded to the offensive team when a defensive player is inside his own goalkeeper’s area to prevent a shot on goal.
    1. Are awarded to the offensive team when the goalie holds onto the ball when out of the tube.
    2. All penalty throws are taken by FEMALE players at the designated 4 meter line.
    3. On a penalty throw, everyone but the shooter and the goalkeeper leaves the penalty area until the throw is taken. No one may be within a yard of the shooter. If the throw is missed, THE BALL REMAINS LIVE AND IS IN PLAY.
  15. PERSONAL FOULS: The offending team loses possession and the opponents receive a free throw (OR PENALTY THROW, IF APPLICABLE) whenever:
    1. Any player holds, pushes, hits, jumps, or blatantly splashes any opponent.
    2. Any player who physically harasses, holds onto their innertubes, splashes, or strikes a player with the ball other than innertube contact, knocking the ball loose, or blocking the shot or the pass within the perimeter of the inner tube.
    3. The goalkeeper holds the side of the pool while catching or passing the ball.
    4. Team “hogs” the ball in the area beside the goal--defensive end--for more than 15 seconds.
  16. MAJOR FOULS: A player will be ejected from the game (substitution not permitted) and the ball is given to the opponent for a free throw for:
    1. Attacking, striking, or kicking an opponent in a manner which IN THE OFFICIAL’S OPINION, could cause an injury.
    2. Refusing to obey a request by the official.
    3. Behaving in an unsportsmanlike manner.
    4. Tipping the tube of another player.
      1. NOTE: This is up to the official’s discretion and should not be questioned. Any harassment of an official will result in a major foul.

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Player Responsibilities

  1. The goalie is responsible for preventing the opponents from scoring. They must do this while SITTING in the tube. The goalie may leave the tube going for a save; however they may not handle the ball or make another save until they are totally back in the tube. The goalie may not touch the side of the pool in order to gain possession.
  2. There are no legal restrictions on the territory covered by either offensive or defensive players, except for the goalkeeper area.
  3. No offensive or defensive player is allowed in the goalkeeper area.
  4. PLAYERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO LEAVE THEIR INNERTUBES TO PLAY THE BALL, except for the goalie. You cannot “swim” your tube to take advantage of position.
  5. Players may use one or both hands in passing, catching, or shooting. A player with the ball may be challenged (SEE PERSONAL FOUL), but the defensive player must not leave their tube. They may not physically harass the player with the ball or strike the player with the ball.
  6. If a player who has fallen out of their tube, including the goalie, touches the ball, they are charged with a personal foul and the nearest opponent is awarded a free throw or penalty throw.