JUNIOR WATER POLO RULES -  (Main Pool - Year 4-6)

Rule and Description

1. Six Players 

A team consists of 6 players in the water at one time – 1 goalie and 5 field players. A team can have up to 5 substitutes who can be interchanged after a goal has been scored and before play has started again.

2. Game Duration 

A game is made up of 2 halves of up to 9 minutes each with teams switching ends at halftime. The break at halftime is approximately 1 minute.

3. Starting play 

To start the game, players line up along their goal line ( White Cone). At the referees whistle, the referee drops the ball in the middle of the pool and players move to the centre line. Players can not push off the end of the pool. Position is granted to the team who reaches the ball first. The first pass must be backwards to a teammate.

4. Goal 

A goal is scored when the whole ball crosses the line of the front 2 posts (the ball does not need to touch the back of the net). The ball carrier can only shoot when they are in the attacking half of the court. It is not permissible to shoot from one’s own half.

5. After A Goal

To start play after a goal is scored, players from each team must return to their own half. The ball starts at halfway with a player from the team who did not score the goal. On the referee's whistle, the player with the ball must pass backwards to a teammate and then the game will continue.

6. Corner Throw 

A corner throw (taken from beside the red 2 meter cone) will be awarded if the ball is knocked out of play by a defending player or goalie.

7. Free Throw  Infringements

Minor foul or infringements below will result in a free throw being awarded by the referee. The free throw must be taken from where the foul occurred or an area not closer to the attacking goal of the team awarded the foul. The player taking the free throw cannot shoot at goal after receiving a foul and defenders cannot interfere with the taking of the free throw. All of the infringements below will result in a free throw being awarded by the referee.

• A player cannot contact the ball with 2 hands (exception being the goalie)

• A player cannot take the ball under the surface of the water

• A player cannot walk or run with the ball

• A player cannot hit ball with a closed fist

• A player cannot swim on or over an opponent’s legs

• A defensive player cannot contact an attacking player

• An offensive player cannot fend away a defensive player 

NO splashing, sinking, holding or pulling back

• Offside play (see description below).

Offside play description:The attacking team must stay behind the attacking player with the ball when they are inside the 2 metre zone- Red cone before the offensive goal.

If you have the ball, you can go inside 2 metres. If you have the ball you can swim it right into the goal! Also, if a teammate with the ball is inside 2 metres, you can go inside 2M also. BUT if the ball goes back outside of 2 metres, you need to get back outside also as soon as possible.

8. Major Foul  Infringements

Major foul infringements will result in a free throw awarded to the attacking team by the referee and the defending player excluded to his/her team’s corner of the pool for a period of either 20 seconds or when the referee signals the player back into the court of play. NO aggressive play (striking or attempting to strike another player) or use of abusive language – this results in exclusion for the remainder of the game with a substitute at the referee's signal.

9. Exclusion  Infringements 

Aggressive play and use of abusive language are prohibited in the game of water polo and the penalty will be exclusion for the remainder of the game WITH a substitute entering play on signal from the referee (aggression is defined as deliberately striking or attempting to strike a fellow player).

10. Team 

Players not in the game are to sit/stand behind the goal line (white cone) and be out of the field of play. Players are not to wear items such as jewellery, goggles, glasses or anything that could cause harm or injury to another player or yourself.

11. Coaches

During the game coaches must be situated in the corner of the pool where their team is located and can only move between that corner of pool (up to the 2m red cone) and the goal that his/her team is defending.

12. One Hand Only 

Players can use only one hand only to catch, pass, shoot or defend the ball. The exception to this is the goalie, who may use both hands.

13. No Ball = Walk;  Ball = Swim Or  Pass 

The pool is shallow, (approximately 1 metre) allowing players to stand on the bottom of the pool. Players are permitted to walk along the bottom if they do not have the ball. When defending standing on the ground with 1 hand raised is ok but no jumping up and down for throwing or defending. 

However, If in possession of the ball the player must swim or pass.

14.  Ball Under 

A player cannot take the ball under the surface of the water. Note that the player whose hand is closest to the ball will be the player deemed to have taken the ball under.

15. Neutral Throw

When 2 players simultaneously gain possession of the ball, the referee will signal a neutral throw. The 2 players involved face the referee, close to the side of the pool, the same side as their goalie; the referee then blows the whistle and throws the ball high inthe middle of the 2 players, who attempt to gain possession by jumping and tapping the ball to a player on their team.

16.  Defending with 2 hands up

The referee will award a free throw (minor foul) to the attacking team if any defensive players defend an opposing player in possession of the ball with 2 hands in the air. If any defensive player other than the goalie stops a shot at goal with 2 hands within the 2 metre area, the referee will award a penalty shot.

17. Penalty Shot

A penalty shot involves a one on one shot involving the goalie and any player from the attacking team. The goalie must be on the goal line and the attacking player will be stationed 4 metres from the goal. No defending players will be in this space. On the referee's whistle the attacking player must shoot immediately without any fake shots.

18. Spectators 

The referee/SWP representative will have the right to warn coaches or spectators about abusive behaviour and, if the behaviour continues, request the person to leave the pool facility.

19. Coach behaviour

Every team must have an adult on the bench poolside. A student coach must be accompanied by an adult for health and safetyreasons.

20. Contact on the ball

EXPLAINED: A player can steal the ball from a player's hand if they can do it without contacting the player. If the player is contacted it becomes a minor foul.

Updated 17/2/2025