USA WATER POLO REFEREE ASSOCIATION NATIONAL REFEREE SCHOOL
NEW RULES & POINTS OF EMPHASIS
SEMINAR 2015
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New Rules and Interpretations
Roster Restrictions
Time Outs
Overtime
Free Throws and Direct Shots
Wasting Time
Simulation
Exclusions in Transition
Impeding and 2 Hand Fouls as Exclusions
Double Exclusions
Exclusions Inside 5 meters
Added Penalty for Delay
Advantage - Enhanced Directions to Referees
PLEASE NOTE:
•  The following is a summary of Playing Rule
Changes as instituted by FINA and are in
effect through 2017.
•  Some of those playing rules, both new and
existing, may be by modified by specific
language in USA Water Polo’s Conduct of
Championships or by a particular event’s
management.
•  We have indicated those instances where the
“rule” may be modified as part of this
summary.
The Intent:
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To Promote Offense and Movement
Reduce (Eliminate) Violence
Simplify the Game for Spectators
Fewer Whistles?
Not the Intent!
ROSTER RESTRICTIONS
•  FINA has limited the size of a team’s roster to
13 players total, two of which MUST be
Goalkeepers. (#1 and #13)
•  The rule also states that there will be no
changing of caps during a game and any
player not designated as a Goalkeeper may
not play that position.
•  No such limitations will be enforced for
Sanctioned Events in the United States and
cap changes between players on a verified
roster will be allowed.
TIMEOUTS
•  Each team is allotted four (4) timeouts per game, ONE (1)
PER PERIOD OF PLAY. (This is subject to modification
for particular events and in general USAWP events will
allow 2 timeouts per game to be used at any time.)
•  If a team does not use their allotted timeout in any
particular period it is lost.
•  If a team calls for a timeout with possession of the ball but
they have none available, it is a turnover.
•  If a team calls for a timeout without possession of the ball,
including when neither team has possession, a penalty is
awarded to the other team and the team calling for the
timeout loses one of their timeouts. (There is some
uncertainty in this situation as to the application when
there are no timeouts remaining. For now, there is no
additional sanction.)
OVERTIME (OR LACK THEREOF)
•  If a game that requires a definite result,
(one that needs to determine a winner),
ends in a tie, the game shall proceed
directly to a Shoot Out.
•  Overtime procedure, if any, may be
modified for particular events.
FREE THROWS AND DIRECT SHOTS
•  A Free Throw or Direct Shot must be
taken “IMMEDIATELY”. This is an
upgrade from “Without Undue Delay”.
•  A defender shall be required to move
away before raising an arm to block a
pass or shot. While no specific distance
is indicated in the rules, 1 meter shall be
the guideline.
WASTING TIME
•  There must be an effort on the part of
the attacking team to progress the ball.
•  The goalkeeper MAY NOT receive the
ball if all of the other players on the
attacking team are in their offensive half
of the field.
•  A referee MUST be consistent with their
application of this rule.
SIMULATION
•  It is an ordinary foul to simulate being
fouled.
•  The Referee may issue a Yellow Card
to a team for repeated simulation.
•  The Yellow Card shall serve as a
warning to that team that if such
behavior continues the referee may
whistle Misconduct. (Rule 21.13)
EXCLUSIONS IN
TRANSITION
•  This particular rule is open for continued
interpretation, but the intent is to promote offense and
punish defense for deliberately slowing down the
team in transition.
•  The Referee is instructed to promote the advantage
for the attacking team by whistling an exclusion foul
in situations that may have previously been
considered ordinary fouls for impeding, especially in
the back court. (Please keep in mind that the initial
whistle that simply establishes possession should be
whistled as an ordinary foul.)
IMPEDING AND 2 HAND
FOULS AS EXCLUSIONS
•  Any foul committed with the use of two hands
(not playing the ball) anywhere in the field of
play shall be an exclusion foul.
•  To impede or otherwise prevent the free
movement of an opponent not holding the ball
shall be an exclusion foul.
•  However, should a player lose possession of
the ball and the defender cannot avoid
impeding, an ordinary foul should be
awarded. (ie. perimeter play)
Perimeter Defense
DOUBLE EXCLUSIONS
•  If a Double Exclusion foul is whistled
when one team has possession of the
ball the Shot Clock SHALL NOT be
reset.
•  If a double exclusion is whistled when
neither team has possession the Shot
Clock shall be reset and the referee
shall administer a Neutral Throw.
EXCLUSIONS INSIDE 5 METERS
•  Based on the Theory that an Exclusion Foul
away from the ball, especially at the Center
Position, is too big of an advantage
considering the offence the Referee shall:
•  1. Whistle/Signal the Exclusion while
signaling the stoppage of play.
•  2. Signal the number of the Excluded Player
to the Field and the Table.
•  3. Then restart play with an upward motion of
the hand that was used to signal stoppage.
ADDED PENALTY FOR
DELAY
•  It shall be a Penalty Foul for a Coach or any Team
Official to take any action to prevent a probable goal or
delay the game while play is in progress. (Does not
apply to interval time.)
•  This includes, but is not limited to the throwing of an
extra counter ball into the field of play when on defense.
•  The Referee must be sure that the action does indeed
delay the game or prevent a goal.
•  This may also apply to a player that throws the ball so
far out of the reach of the offense or out of the field of
play that the referee deems the action to be a
purposeful delay of game.
ADVANTAGE – ENHANCED
INSTRUCTIONS TO REFEREES
•  The Advantage Rule (7.3) has been modified to make it
very clear that the Referee shall whistle in favor of the
offense if all other considerations are equal. This is not
an instruction to “create’ an advantage that does not
exist, only to “restore” what has been taken away.
•  The Interpretation further states that it is perfectly
acceptable for the Referee to whistle an ordinary foul at
the Center Position to maintain possession for the
attacking team if warranted.
•  The thought is that currently referees will whistle either
an Exclusion Foul or nothing at Center which in most
cases clearly advantages the defending team.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS &
RESOURCES
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Player Safety
Accountability and Reporting
Verified Roster / ID Checks
Resources and Videos
Modifications to Playing Rules for
12/Under Age Group Competitions
Player Safety
•  As a Referee for USA Water Polo, Player
Safety needs to be one of your Top
Priorities!
•  Call fouls if needed early and often to
control undue physicality and over
aggressive actions.
•  The Referee MUST learn the art of
allowing superior physical play while
controlling violence and over aggressive
“fouls”.
Is this the Result of Regular
Exclusion Foul?
Accountability and Reporting
•  You MUST report any and all incidents as outlined on
the USAWPR Incident Reporting Form within 24
hours! (Link to that form at usawaterpolo.org)
•  Failure to report an incident as mandated will result in
sanctions to that referee.
•  Know that USA Water Polo will be tracking all reports
for information on the offended parties, offenders, the
type of incident, and the reporter. Habitual offenders
will be subject to sanctions as well.
•  This is an effort to increase the responsibility and
accountability of all parties, including the Referee.
Verified Rosters and ID Check
•  You are responsible to make sure that Verified Rosters
are presented and checked for accuracy via photo ID for
each and every game at any and all USA Water Polo
Sanctioned Events.
•  This process should take place at half time of the previous
game in a tournament setting or 30 minutes prior to game
time. This procedure may of course be modified to fit the
specific needs of any given event, but IT MUST BE
DONE! If a player’s or coach’s ID cannot be verified they
may not participate in a game until such identity can be
verified.
•  You may also coordinate with tournament staff to facilitate
these roster checks, but the ultimate responsibility is with
the Referee.
Modifications to the Playing
Rules
•  USA Water Polo Operations Administration
along with the National Team Coaching Staffs
have adopted some changes and/or
modifications to the playing rules to aid in
player development and opportunities for the
12/Under Age Groups.
•  Those modifications are included with this
training material and are posted at
usawaterpolo.org.
12 & 10/Under Rule
Modifications
•  No Exclusion Time – Excluded Player
Swims to Re Entry Area and is then
Eligible to Return to Field of Play
Penalty for Illegal Entry still applies.
•  No Direct Shot Outside 5 Meters after
foul - First Offence is Warning, then
Contra Foul.
Playing Rule Modifications Cont.
•  No “Zone” Defense – Defender must
stay within 1 meter of Opponent when
they are in their defensive half
(indicated by a cone at 9 meters) – First
Offence Warning to both teams with
new possession clock to offense, then
Exclusion Foul, does not apply to player
advantage (6on5) situations.
FINI!!
THANKS TO ALL!
GOOD LUCK AND PLEASE HAVE FUN!
Links to Playing Rules, Interpretations,
Certification Criteria, ZHR Contact Information,
Rules Test, Reporting, Video Examples, and
more can be found at: www.usawaterpolo.org
(Membership Tab/USAWP Referee Association)
please address any questions or concerns to [email protected]