What changes the result
The rules behind the moments commentators get excited about. They build on the beginner rules.
I · Intermediate · 11 rules · Step 2 of 4The game
- How do water polo players swap in and out while the game is going on?Substitutions are unlimited and can be made at any time.
- How many timeouts does a water polo team get, and who can call one?Each team has two timeouts in a game, each lasting one minute.
- What happens if a water polo match ends level?A level game goes to a penalty shoot-out after a three-minute break.
Fouls and cards
Throws, referees and reviews
- What happens after the whistle for a foul in water polo?The fouled team takes a free throw from where the ball is, with no delay.
- Who gets the ball when it goes out behind the goal in water polo?It depends on who touched it last.
- How is a penalty taken in water polo?Any player of the team may take it, from any point on the 5 metre line.
- Why does a water polo referee sometimes see a foul and not blow the whistle?Because stopping play would help the team that fouled.
- What can be checked on video in water polo, and can a coach ask for it?The referee may review eight kinds of decision, among them goal or no goal, a suspected violent action and a wrong entry.