Why do water polo players keep getting sent to the corner?
B · Beginner · Fouls and cards · 7 of 7An exclusion foul sends the player to the re-entry area in the corner and gives the other team a free throw and an extra player. The player, or a substitute, comes back after 15 seconds of play, after a goal or when their team wins the ball back. Holding, sinking and pulling back are the classic causes.
How it works
- The punishment: "a free throw to the opposing team and the exclusion of the player who committed the foul".
- Leaving: the player must leave the field at once without leaving the water, and swim to the re-entry area nearest their own goal line without interfering with play.
- Coming back: at the earliest of these: 15 seconds of actual play have passed, a goal is scored, the player's team regains possession, or the team is awarded a free throw, a goal throw or a penalty throw.
- The signals: the secretary raises a flag when the time is up. The defensive referee waves the player in on a change of possession.
- No pushing off: the player may not jump or push off from the wall when re-entering, or move the goal.
- The fouls: to "hold, sink or pull back an opponent who is not holding the ball"; to hold an opponent with two hands; to impede an opponent who is not holding the ball, including swimming on their back or legs; to splash in an opponent's face on purpose; to try to block a pass or shot with two hands outside the 6 metre area; to interfere with a free throw, goal throw or corner throw; to kick or strike in a disproportionate movement.
- The tactical foul: a foul by a defender on any player of the team with the ball "with the intent to stop the flow of the attack".
- Holding the ball: "lifting, carrying or touching the ball but does not include dribbling the ball". An opponent who is holding the ball may be tackled.
- Counted: every exclusion foul is a personal foul.
The glossary has the exclusion foul, exclusion, the tactical foul, the exclusion re-entry area and the extra-man attack.
Tricky cases
Is it a foul to tackle the player who is holding the ball?
No. The holding, sinking and impeding fouls protect "an opponent who is not holding the ball". Once a player lets go of the ball or dribbles it in front of them, the same contact is a foul.
The excluded player's team wins the ball after five seconds. Can the player come back?
Yes. The exclusion ends at the earliest of the listed moments, and regaining possession is one of them.
The excluded player is slow to leave and gets in the way of a pass. What is the call?
A penalty foul. An excluded player who interferes with play on purpose gives away a penalty throw, and the referee may treat a slow departure as intentional.
Two opponents are excluded at the same moment. Who gets the ball?
The team that had it, with a free throw. If neither team had it, the referee gives a neutral throw.
Why the rule exists
Most of a water polo player is under water, where the referees cannot see every grab. A short spell with a player fewer makes the foul cost a likely goal and puts nobody out of the match for one offence. Counting each one towards three personal fouls stops a defender from doing it all game.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Aquatics rules, January 2025 | 15 seconds of actual play | WP 9.3 |
| Simultaneous exclusion of opponents | The same edition says both are excluded "for 20 seconds". The two figures do not match and the page follows Article 9.3 | WP 9.15 |
| Inside the 6 metre area, with a probable goal prevented | The foul becomes a penalty foul | WP 10.2 |
| Third personal foul | The player is out for the rest of the game and a substitute comes in | WP 16.2 |
From the rule book
World Aquatics, Competition Regulations, Part Six: Water Polo Rules (in force as from 1 January 2025), Articles 9.1 to 9.12 and 9.15 to 9.18, 10.3 and 16.1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (PDF).