Coed Waterpolo Rules

Teams:  Teams will consist of seven players:  four women and three men or four men and three women.  Teams may play one player short (3 men and 3 women).  The starting lineup must be turned in before game starts.

Time Factor:  Game time in forfeit time.  A game will consist of one (1) 25 minute game, with a continuous running clock.  Each team will be allowed time out per game.  Time outs may be called only by the team which is in control of the ball.

Score:  A goal is scored when the entire ball breaks the plane between the goal posts and over the goal line.  Two points for a goal scored by a female and one point for a goal scored by a male.  Penalty points carry the same scoring ratio.

Substitution:  Free substitution will be allowed.  Subs may be made after a goal, during a time out, or between periods.  Subs report to the referee.

Goalkeeper:  The goalie must be sitting on his/her tube at all times.  He/she may not hold onto the goal post or the wall.  The goalie shall be the only player allowed inside the goal area.  The goalie shall be allowed to use both hands or strike the ball with a clenched fist.  The goalie may leave his/her tube to retrieve the ball outside the penalty zone after a missed goal, but must return to his/her tube and establish a legal position in the tube before making the outlet pass.  The goalie has five seconds to throw the ball from the goal area.  If the goalie is outside the designated goal are, he/she must follow player regulations.

Start of the game:  To begin the game, players must line up at the ends of the pool, grasping the deck and wait until the whistle is blown.  After each goal, the goalie will initiate the action by throwing the ball into play.

Offsides:  A player is considered offsides when his/her team is in possession of the ball and he/she is closer to the other team goal then any defender unless he/she is behind the ball.  Players are not considered to be in an offside position until the ball has been established in the offensive half of the pool.  The officials shall always have the authority to make exceptions to the offsides call when it is his/her judgment a player is not involved in the play of the ball.

Free Toss:  A free toss shall be awarded after a personal foul up until the fifth team foul.  On a free toss, the defensive player must be at least three feet away from the thrower.  Upon a foul, the team committing the foul shall immediately turnover the ball to the nearest opponent.

Penalty Throws:  A penalty throw is awarded when a team commits its fifth personal foul or when a team commits any technical foul.  Penalty throws may be shot by a team member but must be of the same sex as the existing opposing goalie.  Penalty shots are attempted from outside the goalie area.  Faking the penalty throw is not allowed.  The thrower must make the attempt as soon as the official gives the signal.  After the penalty throw the defense gains possession regardless of the outcome of the attempt.

Alternating Possessions:  If two opponents commit fouls simultaneously, both players will be assessed a foul and the ball will be awarded on alternating possessions.  Alternate possession rights will be decided at the beginning of the game.

Offensive Player: 

-        All players must be sitting or lying on their tubes when the have the ball.

-        Male players must use only one hand to contact the ball at anytime.

-        Female players may contact the ball with two hands and throw with two hands.

-        Once the ball is taken out of the water the player in possession may not move except to pivot.  To move again, the ball must return to the water.

-        A player may move with the ball by placing the ball in the water alongside the tube and moving the ball on top of the water.

-        At no time may the ball be carried or palmed while in the water.

-        Offensive players may not move into the five yard goalie area at any time.

Defensive Player:

-        All players must be sitting or lying on their tubes.

-        A defensive player may flip over an offensive player who is in control of the ball and is holding the ball out of the water.

-        The defensive player must be on his/her tube when flipping an opponent and must flip the opponent's tube without contacting the player.

-        Defensive players may not enter the five yard goalie area at any time.

Turnovers:  The ball shall be awarded to the other team for a free toss when one of the following infractions occur:

-         It shall be illegal to put the ball under water

-         It shall be illegal to move with the ball out of the water other than to pivot

-         If the ball goes out of play, the ball shall be given to the team not responsible for its leaving the playing area.

-         A player with the ball in the tube may be considered as in control of the ball and may be flipped.

-         It is illegal to palm or carry the ball if the ball is being advanced.

-         In the last two minutes of the game, no player that is closely guarded may retain possession of the ball for more than 5 seconds.

-         Backcourt violation occurs when a team gains possession in their offensive half of the pool, the ball may not return to the defensive half before being touched by a defensive player.

-         A goalie may not hold the ball for more than five seconds

-         Offensive or defensive players may not be in the goal area

Personal Fouls:  Personal fouls are penalized by a turn over and a free toss for the team offended.  Upon the fifth personal foul, the penalty for each foul throughout the remainder of the game is a penalty throw for the team fouled against.  Personal fouls are as follows:

-         Goalie throwing the ball beyond the half way line

-         Intentional body contact

-         Holding another players tube while that player does not have control of the ball

-         Deliberately splashing water into the opponents face.

-         Grabbing the lane rope to prevent the flow of play

-         Dumping player without the ball

-         Touching the bal or an opponent while not in the tube

-         Shoving another player into the goalie area

Technical Fouls:  Are penalized automatically by penalty throws.  Technical fouls count towards the team foul total.They are as follows:

-         Any unsportsmanlike conduct: verbal or physical

-         Tampering with equipment