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NCAA Casebook
CASEBOOK OF NCAA WATER POLO
INTERPRETATIONS
JANUARY 2011
Rule 5 Teams and
Substitutes
Rule 5-4
Women’s Suits; Rule 7-7-1 Referee Reporting
Responsibility
Situation: The referees inspected the players
prior to the game in conformance with Rule 1-1 and Rule 5-5 and
noted that the straps on the suit of the goalkeeper were less than
one inch in width. The team did not have a spare suit or another
goalkeeper with the correct suit. What should be the action of the
referee?
Answer: The referee should follow the same
procedure as with non-compliant caps (Rule 4-6). The referees must
attempt to have the goalkeeper comply with the rule before the game
starts by either changing suits or goalkeepers. If that is not
possible, the referee should check that there is mutual agreement
of both teams to play the game with a nonconforming suit. The
referee must report the situation after the game in accordance with
Rule 7-7-1, which states that the referee shall report any issues
with nonconforming caps and suits to the conference commissioner
who shall report the violation to the athletics director for
correction.
Rule 5-4 Articles Likely to Cause
Injury
Situation: A player suffered a concussion in a
previous game. The player was cleared to resume play several days
later by the team physician, but the physician recommended the use
of a protective helmet made of foam to help prevent another
concussion in practices or in future competition. Is this type of
head gear allowed? If it is, the team plans to put a large cap over
the helmet or paint the helmet with the appropriate color(s) and
player number.
Ruling: The device must be approved by the
institution’s team physician/athletic trainer to ensure it is
not likely to cause injury to the player or to other players. The
Water Polo Release and Indemnification Form must be signed by the
institution’s authorized representative and the use must be
approved by the conference commissioner. The form is located in
Appendix F of the NCAA Water Polo 2010-12 Rules and
Interpretations. This form specifically releases the referees from
any liability in connection with the use of this article. Any cap
worn over the device or any painting of the device itself must
comply with Rule 4, Caps.
Rule 7
Referees
Rule 7-4 Issuance of
a Yellow Card to a Coach
Situation: During a timeout, the head coach
approached the referee to ask for clarification of permissible and
non-permissible impeding of the team’s 2-meter player. The
referee immediately issued the coach a yellow card. Should the
referee have allowed this question by the head coach at this
time?
Ruling: The head coach may discuss rule
clarifications and misapplications of rules with the referee at
intervals between periods and during timeouts. Judgment calls are
not an appropriate topic of discussion at any time. If the question
was a request for clarification of a rule, the referee should have
answered the question. The referee must distinguish between a
discussion clarifying a rule or a potential misapplication of the
rule permissible) or questioning the referee’s judgment
(impermissible).
Rule 7-10
Protests
Situation: During the first period of a game, the
referees awarded the incorrect penalty for an improper entry of an
excluded player on defense. Either team could have protested the
decision at that time but no protest was filed. The injured team
won the game. Can the non-injured team protest after the conclusion
of the game that the incorrect penalty was awarded in the first
period?
Ruling: Yes. Either team may protest the
misapplication of a rule during or after the game, within the time
limits described in the rule. It is doubtful if this protest would
be upheld as the purpose of a protest is to minimize the damage
done by a misapplication of a rule. If the injured team won the
game, the losing team should not be able to gain from this type of
protest.
Rule 9
Timekeepers
Rule 9-3 Goal Scored
at End of Period
Situation: A shot was taken near the end of the
period. The buzzer for the end of the period sounded while the ball
was in the air. If the ball subsequently crossed the goal line into
the goal, does the goal count?
Ruling: Yes. If the ball is in flight when the
clock buzzer sounded, any resultant goal shall be allowed.
Rule 9-3 Goal Scored at End of
Period, Rule 7-10 Protests, and Rule 14-4 Goal at
Expiration of
Time
Situation: A shot was taken near the end of the
period. The buzzer for the end of the period sounded while the ball
was in the air. The referee blew the whistle while the ball was
still in the air. The ball subsequently crossed the goal line into
the goal. The referee disallowed the goal. Is this decision of the
referee protestable?
Ruling: The rules state that if the ball is in
flight when the clock buzzer sounds, any resultant goal shall be
allowed. The referee should not have blown the whistle. However, it
is not protestable as it is not a correctable error or a
misapplication of the rules. The referee made a mistake and the
ball became dead at the whistle.
Rule 12
Timeouts
Rule 12-7 30-Second Timeout
Question: Should the time during a 30-second
timeout be classified as interval time?
Ruling: Yes. The time during either a regular
timeout or a 30-second timeout is classified as interval time. No
distinction is made in the rules between the two types of timeouts
(Rule 21-10).
Rule 20 Ordinary
Fouls
Rule 20-14
Goalkeeper Past Half, Rule 21-10 Misconduct
Situation: The goalkeeper went past half. The
referee warned the player not to repeat this foul. However, the
goalkeeper then immediately again swam past half. May the referee
exclude the player for the remainder of the game for
misconduct?
Ruling: Yes, if the referee believes that the
player is refusing obedience to or showing disrespect to the
referee, fouls that are included in the definition of
misconduct.
Rule 21 Exclusion Fouls
Rule 21-4 Player
Leaving the Water
Situation: In a women’s game, a player
exited the water at the reentry area, believing she was excluded
after the referee turned the ball when she committed an offensive
foul. When she realized the error, she returned to the field of
play from the reentry area at the direction of her coach. The
referee made no call. Is this correct?
Ruling: The rule states that if a player has left
the water legitimately, the player may reenter from the reentry
area with the referee’s permission. The referee observed and
understood the situation, and, by not blowing the whistle, tacitly
gave her permission to reenter.
Rule 21-10 Misconduct During
Timeout
Situation: The team in dark caps had possession
of the ball. The coach of this team called a regular timeout.
During this timeout, the referee excluded a player with a dark cap
for the remainder of the game for misconduct. How shall the referee
restart play after this timeout?
Ruling: At the conclusion of the timeout, the
referee should restart play even-up, with a player from the team
with dark caps putting the ball into play.
Rule 21-12 Simultaneous Personal
Fouls
Situation: The blue men’s team was on
offense. White player #12 was excluded for fouling blue player #8,
his first personal foul. The coach of the blue team immediately
called a timeout. Several seconds into the timeout, the referee
called a double exclusion against both these players for minor acts
of misconduct. How should the referee restart play after the
timeout?
Ruling: Since these exclusion fouls were
classified as minor acts of misconduct during interval time, play
would start even-up with substitutes in the field of play and the
original players eligible to be subbed in after 20 seconds or the
earliest occurrence of an event referred to in Rule 21-3. However,
since white player #12 was excluded prior to the timeout, that
player or that player’s substitute must be in the reentry
area instead of in the field of play. In this case, the blue team
would start play after the timeout with a 6 on 5 player advantage
and white #12 would not be eligible to participate for 20 seconds
or the earliest occurrence of an event referred to in Rule 21-3.
The referees must warn both teams that the next MAM committed
during interval time will result in the player being excluded for
the remainder of the game for misconduct. Note: this corrects a
typo in the Dec. 14 interpretations.
Rule 23 Penalty
Throws
Rule 23-4, 5 Taking
of a Penalty Throw
Situation: A player taking a penalty throw
skipped the ball towards the goal. The ball, after hitting the
water, failed to skip and remained dead in the water two feet in
front of the goal. Can the shooter swim forward and take another
shot at the goal? Can the goalkeeper swim forward and throw the
ball to a player on defense?
Ruling: The shooter cannot take another shot at
the goal unless the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper, goal post,
or crossbar. In the situation described the referee should blow the
ball dead for the ordinary foul of an improperly taken penalty
throw (Rule 20-12) when the ball fails to rebound from the
goalkeeper, goal post, or crossbar.
CASEBOOK OF NCAA WATER POLO
INTERPRETATIONS
FALL 2006 THROUGH AUGUST 2010
This list includes all interpretations, rulings and answers to questions that were distributed during the past four years that are still applicable, in addition to new interpretations (shaded). Some interpretations and answers to questions have been shortened from the original version and some have been changed.
Rule 1 Field of Play and Equipment
Rule 1-1 Pregame Inspection; Rule 1-4 Pool Dimensions; Rule 1-6 Pool Markers, Rule 7-7 Referee Reporting Responsibilities 8-27-07, 11-15-07, 8-10-10
Situation: The referee noted in the pre-game inspection that the pool to be used for the game was 75 feet wide. No side lines were available. What is the responsibility of the referee in this situation?
Ruling: The width of the water polo course may not exceed 20 meters (66 feet). The referee must inform the administrator in charge before the game of the requirement to have correctly marked side lines in place in order to decrease the size of the pool to the correct maximum width. After the game the referee must report the lack of the required side lines to the conference commissioner and the assigning authority. In turn, the conference commissioner must report the violation to the appropriate athletics director, so that this may be corrected. The same procedure is to be followed if there are side lines, but the side lines are not correctly marked.
Note: All site problems and rules violations with subsequent penalties are to be reported to the assigning authority in addition to the conference commissioner in order that the assigning authority is able to communicate problems and suspensions in subsequent games to the referees.
Rule 1-1 Sounds of Clock Buzzers 8-05-09
Situation: The referee noted in the pre-game inspection that the buzzer for the expiration of time on the game clock has the same sound as that of the buzzer on the shot clock. What is the responsibility of the referee in this situation?
Ruling: The requirement for a difference in the sounds of the buzzers of the game clock and of the shot clock was effective July 1, 2009. The referee must report this violation to the administrator in charge and afterwards to the conference commissioner and the assigning authority. The commissioner must then report this violation to the appropriate athletics director in order that this may be corrected (Rule 7-7). To temporarily solve the problem, the referee should instruct either the game timer or the shot clock timer to sound an air horn (or whistle) when the game clock reaches 0:00. This is usually the responsibility of the shot clock timer as the shot clock is blanked when less than 35 seconds remain in a period and a new period of possession is awarded.
Rule 1-1 Number of Shot Clocks 8-10-10
Situation: Before the start of the game, the visiting coach complained to the referees that there was only one visible shot clock and that clock was located on the scoreboard in the middle of one side of the pool. The coach protested playing a conference game in this pool. What is the responsibility of the referee in this situation?
Ruling: The rule requires a minimum of two shot clocks, each located at a corner of the pool (see Rule 1-1 for requirement and location). The referee must report this violation immediately to the administrator in charge who should try to remedy this violation prior to the game (borrowing shot clocks from another sport or nearby school, for example, as this is a very serious violation). The referee must this violation to the conference commissioner and the assigning authority. The commissioner must then report this violation to the appropriate athletics director in order that this may be corrected (Rule 7-7).
Rule 1-2 Field of Play 8-10-10
Situation: The score table is located at one end of the pool. What is the responsibility of the referee in this situation?
Ruling: The score table shall be located at the center of one side of the pool in accordance with the pool diagram on page 22. This location in the center of the course provides the optimum view of the field of play for the score table personnel and for communication between the referees and the score table personnel. The referee should determine the cause for this layout and try to remedy it before the game, working with the administrator in charge. The referee should report this violation to the conference commissioner and assigning authority as described in the first interpretation. The commissioner must then report this violation to the appropriate athletics director in order that this may be corrected (Rule 7-7).
Rule 1-6 Non-Conforming Pool Markers 11-15-07
Situation: A pool was of the correct dimensions, but the colors of the side lines, the markings on the pool deck and the color and placement of cones did not agree with each other (a painted mark on the pool deck was 6 inches from the change in color of the side lines which was slightly different from the location of the cones). What should be the action of the referee prior to the game?
Ruling: One type of boundary marking (colors of side lines, cones, or deck markers) does not take precedence over the other markings, but in pools wider than 66 feet, side lines are required and must be colored correctly. The requirement for correct markings on the pool was effective July 1, 2007. The referee must point out major deficiencies to the administrator in charge. Any possible change in markings should be made at that time and, if they still differ, both teams must be informed which marking is the correct marking. After the match, the referee must report any issues with the course to the conference commissioner and assigning authority as described in the first interpretation. The commissioner must then report this violation to the appropriate athletics director in order that this may be corrected (Rule 7-7).
Rule 1-7 Reentry Area 11-15-07
Situation: The reentry area was marked in red at one meter on the boundary line at both ends of the field of play, instead of at two meters, as required. An excluded player from the host team reentered the field of play outside the marked area at approximately 1.5 meters. The exclusion secretary blew the whistle for an improper reentry. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: Since the player entered the field of play outside the marked reentry area, the reentry shall be considered an improper reentry and Rule 21-13 shall be applied. The referee, however, should have noted this error in pool marking during the pre-game inspection and should have had the host mark the reentry areas correctly before the game began. The referee should report the lack of correct pool markings as described in the first interpretation in order that this will be corrected.
Rule 1-7 Reentry Area 8-10-10
Question: Since the excluded player must arrive in the reentry area before being replaced by a substitute from the same area, how is this area defined?
Answer: The length extends for 2 meters on the boundary line from the side of the field of play towards the goal on the side opposite the score table and is colored red. (It is recommended that the entire 2-meter portion of this boundary line be colored red, not just the 2-meter mark.) If a line extends from the rear of the goal to the side line, with another line extending from the 2-meter mark back to this rear line, these lines and the side line form the reentry area. If there are no actual lines except the portion of the boundary line marked in red and the side line, the reentry area is still understood to be the same rectangle as is described above, although the depth of the rectangle may vary. For example, some pools have a lane line extending across the pool behind the goal, forming the rear boundary of the reentry area. If wall goals are used or if the pool wall is close to the boundary line, the depth of the reentry area extends back to the wall. If there is no line or wall forming the back boundary of the reentry area, the referees should decide before the game begins what constitutes the rear boundary and inform the captains in the pre-game meeting if it is something different from the above.
Rule 1-7 Reentry Area 8-10-10
Question: Is the excluded player or substitute required to enter the field of play from a point immediately adjacent to the red mark (the end of the 2-meter line)?
Answer: No. The player may enter from any place along the two-meter red line.
Rule 1-12 Use of Video 9-08-08
Situation: A player’s nose was broken in a game. Later in the game, the coach of the injured player requested to use his/her game tape to prove that an opposing player deliberately hit the player. Is this allowed?
Ruling: No. The use of video by referees to make decisions related to the game during the game is prohibited.
Rule 1-12 Use of Video 11-15-07
Situation: Flagrant misconduct and a fight, accompanied by the entrance of players into the field of play from one bench area, occurred near the end of a game. The referees imposed the correct penalties for flagrant misconduct and fighting, and assessed the fighting penalty for players who left the bench area during a fight (Rule 21-11). The referees informed the conference commissioner of their action. The question was raised after the game as to whether flagrant misconduct, in fact, did occur and if the players who entered the field of play actually participated in the fight. May the conference commissioner use video review to confirm the occurrence of flagrant misconduct and fighting in order to impose the appropriate post-game suspensions?
Ruling: Yes. Since the conference has a rule allowing the use of videotape after a game to determine if flagrant misconduct and/or a fight occurred and who participated in this action, the commissioner can, based on observation of the players’ actions in the video, impose the appropriate penalty for the actions that actually occurred.
Rule 1-12 Use of Video 8-05-09
Question: The rules permit the use of video review after a game to determine if an incorrect student-athlete is serving a postgame suspension, to determine if flagrant misconduct occurred that was not detected during the game, or to further penalize a participant for unsportsmanlike conduct. Can video review be used to determine if a red card was awarded appropriately to a coach?
Answer: No. The use of video pertains to acts committed by participating athletes during the game. In addition, since most cameras are turned off during period breaks, timeouts, and often after goals, times during which red cards are more likely to be issued, video would not consistently record actions of coaches that might merit or not merit a red card.
Rule 3 The Ball
Rule 3-5, Rule 8-3, Rule 21-4 Ball Retrieval Over End Line 10-20-06, 9-08-08, 8-10-10
Situation: A ball went over the end line and remained outside the field of play. A second ball landed in a similar area. The goalkeeper then left the field of play to retrieve one of the balls. What should the referee call in this situation?
Ruling: The referee should exclude the goalkeeper for 20 seconds for leaving the field of play without permission (Rule 21-4). To prevent this situation from occurring, five game-quality balls must be available for all games, one with the referee and two at each bench. When a ball goes out of bounds over the end line, the coach must have a team member from the bench immediately retrieve the ball and return it to the bench. If the coach does not do this, the referee shall warn the coach and, at the next occurrence, shall give the coach a yellow card. The goal judge, if present, or one of the coaches on the bench should throw in the counter ball.
Rule 3-5, Rule 8-3, Rule 19-1-a, Rule 21-4 Ball Retrieval Over Side Line 10-20-06, 9-08-08
Situation: The ball landed between the side line and the pool wall. The player swam under the side line, retrieved the ball and swam back into the field of play. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The player should retrieve a ball only if it is immediately outside the field of play where the player can reach over the side line or end line and does not need to leave the field of play. If a player left the field of play to retrieve the ball, the referee should exclude the player for 20 seconds for leaving the field of play without permission (Rule 21-4).
Rule 4 Caps
Rule 4-1, 2, 3, 6 Lack of Adherence of Cap Color to Rule 9-08-08, 11-18-08, 8-10-10
Situation: During the pre-game meeting, the referee noted that the visiting goalkeeper wore a solid red water polo cap, with either number 1 or 13 on the cap. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should inform the captain that the cap is not in compliance with the rules and the cap should be changed. If the team does not have the correct cap and is not able not borrow one from the other team, the usual method of handling this situation is, if both teams agree, to allow the game to proceed as opposed to forfeiting the game, but the referee should inform the conference commissioner of the improper cap. The commissioner shall report this to the institution’s athletics director so that this may be corrected for future games (Rule 7-7).
Rule 4-1 Caps 8-10-10
Question: Must each player on the bench wear a cap even if that player is not likely not play?
Answer: Yes, each player on the bench must have a cap on at all times in order to distinguish players from staff and to determine the identity of a player if it is necessary to give a red card to that player..
Rule 4-1 Cap Design and Colors 8-10-10
Situation: The visiting team wore white caps with a blue checkerboard design on the caps. What should be the action of the referees?
Ruling: The visiting team must use solid white caps. If the team does not have the correct set of caps with them, they must try to borrow them from the home team. The referees must report this infraction as described in the first interpretation.
Rule 4-2, 3 Color of Ear Guards 8-10-10
Situation: May the goalkeeper on the visiting team wear a red and white paneled cap with dark ear guards?
Ruling: No. The ear guards on the cap of the visiting goalkeeper must be white as an aid to the rapid identification of this player as a member of the visiting team. The ear guards of the goalkeeper of the home team must be dark to match those on the caps of the dark (home) team. They may be red only if the home team caps are red. Rule 4-6 provides that if the caps do not meet specifications, the game may be played if there is mutual agreement of both teams and of the referees that the cap numbers are clearly visible. After the match, the referee must report this issue with the cap as described in the first interpretation in order that this may be corrected.
Rule 4-4 Change of Cap Number 11-18-08
Question: May a player change cap number during a game if a cap is torn?
Answer: It is recommended that each team either have a replacement set of caps readily available so that a cap with the same number can be used for replacement if a cap is lost or damaged during the game or bring extra caps (with different numbers) of the same set. If a replacement cap is not available, a player may change cap number with the permission of a referee and with notification by the referee to the game secretary and the coach of the opposing team. The player may not use the cap number of a player previously excluded from the game for misconduct or for having any personal fouls as this causes confusion on the exclusion board and on the scoresheet (one cap number could end up with four or more fouls charged to a cap number that has been used by two players).
Rule 5 Teams and Substitutes
Rule 5-1 Number of Players, Illegal Player 11-15-07, revised 8-10-10
Situation: A player received a third personal foul, an exclusion foul, at 6:04 in the fourth period and was immediately substituted. The scorekeeper raised the red flag and lowered it after the substitution. Later in the period a goal was scored at 1:04. The player with the third personal foul entered the field of play at that time after the goal and was observed by the desk at 0:46, just as a goal was scored by that team. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: Since a desk error was not involved, the referee should remove the player for the remainder of the game, remove the goal scored at 0:46, reset the game clock to 1:04, reset the shot clock, and award a penalty throw (Rule 22-6), with the substitute for the player with three personal fouls in the reentry area until the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3. See Rule 11-5 for replay of part of a game.
Rule 5-1 and Rule 7-9-a Entry of a Player with Three Personal Fouls Not Red-Flagged by Desk 9-08-08
Situation: The blue team was leading, 4-2. Blue player #5 was excluded for 20 seconds at 4:23 in the second period, that foul making his/her third personal foul. The desk failed to signal this with the red flag. Blue #5 reentered play immediately after the extraman goal was scored by the white team at 4:15 (making the score 4-3). Play continued with the white team scoring an additional two goals, making the score 4-5. During this time, white player #6 received his/her third personal foul, an exclusion foul. The error on blue #5 was not noticed until the next period immediately after blue player #3 scored a goal, making the score 5-5 at 3:13 in the third period. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should call the ball out and ask the coach of the white team which option the coach prefers:(1) To go back to the time the extraman goal scored at 4:15 in the second period after the third foul on blue #5, taking away all goals scored except that extraman goal scored at 4:15 and all fouls awarded during this period of time (there were no cards, misconduct or flagrant misconduct fouls during this time). The referee should remove blue #5 and restart the game with a score of 4-3 in favor of the blue team, with the clock reset to 4:15, the time of the extraman goal OR (2) To not reset the clock, keeping all goals and fouls awarded during this time (including any goals by blue #5), remove blue #5 at this time for the remainder of the game, with the score blue 5, white 5.
Rule 5-2 Role of Assistant Coach During Play 11-18-08, 8-10-10
Question: The rule requires the assistant coach to sit on the bench during play. May the assistant coach call out instructions to players during play?
Answer: Yes. There is no rule prohibiting the assistant coach from speaking to players during play, provided that the assistant coach is seated. The assistant coach must be seated at all times except during a timeout, after a goal, or during a lengthy stoppage of play. The assistant coach may not speak to the referee, however, at any time during a game.
Rule 5-2 Role of Assistant Coach with Counter Balls 11-18-08
Question: Rule 3-5 provides that if there are not goal judges, that there must be two balls at each bench and one with the referee. May the assistant coach throw in a counter ball in this case? To enable the throw may the assistant coach stand for the throw and then immediately sit down again?
Answer: The assistant coach may throw in a counter ball and the assistant coach may stand to throw in the counter ball as long as the assistant coach then immediately sits down after the throw. The rule requiring the assistant coach to sit on the bench at all times does not pertain to this type of action. The assistant coach may not shout out instructions to the players while standing or comment to the referees at any time.
Rule 5-4 Women’s Suits 8-10-10
Situation: The referee noted that the players on the women’s team were wearing suits that differ in color and style from each other. What action should the referee take?
Ruling: No action. Although all suits must be non-transparent and one piece, there is no rule that they must be of the same style and color as long as the style conforms with the rules.
Rule 5-4 Suit Replacement 8-05-09
Question: With 44 seconds remaining in the period, a player on offense from the blue team grabbed the suit of a player on the white team and caused exposure. The referees excluded the blue player for 20 seconds and turned the ball over. The coach of the white team immediately called a 30-second timeout. Since the suit was ripped, the player put a new suit over the old one, taking longer than 30 seconds. May the referee turn the ball over to the other team? May the referee change the 30-second timeout into a regular two-minute timeout?
Answer: If a replacement suit is readily available at the team bench and if the coach notified the referees before the game that replacement suits are immediately available at the bench, the player may put the suit on over the original suit, usually remaining in the water while doing this, and then continue play. No maximum time is specified in the rules for the replacement of either a suit or cap but the suit or cap replacement must not take away the advantage. This was not an issue in this case since play was stopped for the timeout. In addition, a referee may not change a 30-second timeout into a regular timeout, even if it takes longer than 30 seconds to put on the suit.
Rule 5-4 Finger Splint or Cast 8-27-07, 11-18-08, revised 8-10-10
Question: A player is wearing a finger splint or a plaster of paris cast and has a release signed by a physician or trainer. Should the referee permit the player to play with either of these items?
Answer: No. The referee needs to judge each article for its potential to cause injury; however, both a finger splint and a plaster of paris cast, if padded or unpadded, are regarded as articles likely to cause injury, either to the player wearing the item or to an opponent, and both are specifically prohibited in the rules and are listed as prohibited on the current waiver form. There is also the real possibility that the player wearing these devices could suffer additional injury to the injured area, as the cast or splint does not offer complete protection. The waiver (release) is to be used for items such as goggles, a face mask, or a nose guard composed of a plastic or similar material designed not to cause injury upon impact. NOTE: there are newer materials that are more flexible that can now be used on a hand, for example. These must be reviewed by the commissioner before receiving approval for use.
Rule 5-4 Articles Likely to Cause Injury 8-05-09
Situation: The referee observes a water polo player wearing a nose stud or a ring in the nose or lip during the pre-game meeting. What should be the action of the referee?
Answer: The referee should require the player to remove these or similar items. These items are jewelry and are regarded as articles likely to cause injury, particularly to the player wearing these items.
Rule 5-5 Substances on Body 8-10-10
Situation: A player was detected with oil on the body after the start of the game. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should remove the player from play with immediate substitution and instruct the player to remove the oil. The player may later return to play as a substitute after the referee has checked the player. This is the same procedure followed for sharp nails. Players needing to wear sunscreen should use a product that is not oily or greasy in its final form when applied to the body. Also see interpretation in this rule about the new penalty for the use of a substance on the hands to improve the grip on the ball.
Rule 5-6 Time of Substitution 9-08-08
Situation: A coach made a substitution during a temporary stoppage of play, such as while a referee was resetting a clock. Should the referee allow this substitution?
Ruling: No. Players may not be substituted during a temporary stoppage of play, such as while a player is retrieving a cap, while a referee is checking on an injury, or while the referee is resetting a clock. The referee should remove (without penalty) the entering player and require the original player to return to the pool.
Rule 5-6, Rule 22-6 Method of Direct Substitution 11-15-07, revised 8-10-10
Situation: A direct (live time) substitute entered the field of play from the reentry area before the player he/she was replacing left the field of play directly at the reentry area. What is the call of the referee?
Ruling: Since there are now eight players in the field of play, the substitute player entering the pool from the reentry area is regarded as a player not entitled to participate. That player is excluded for the remainder of the game, and a penalty throw is awarded. A player, usually the player leaving the field of play, must be in the reentry area for the taking of the penalty throw. If scored, that player may immediately enter the pool. No foul is charged to that player.
Rule 5-6 Method of Direct Substitution 8-10-10
Situation: While attempting a direct substitution, the player leaving the field of play left under the end line on the opposite side from the reentry area, with the substitute player still in the reentry area. What is the call of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should immediately blow the whistle when the exiting player went under the end line and exclude that player for 20 seconds for leaving the field of play (Rule 21-4) without permission. In a direct substitution the player must swim directly to the reentry area from the field of play, but in this case, the departing player instead left the field of play under the end line on the opposite side of the pool. Either that player or the substitute waiting in the reentry area may enter at the earliest occurrence of one of the events listed in Rule 21-3.
Rule 5-6, Rule 22-6 Method of Direct Substitution 8-10-10
Situation: A live-time substitution occurred during a game immediately after the ball turned over and that team was counterattacking down the field of play. The player leaving the pool swam under the end line halfway between the goal and the side line. The referee blew the whistle immediately for the improper exit from the field of play, just as the substitute entered from the reentry area. What should be the call of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should blow the whistle and exclude the player who left the field of play at the wrong area for 20 seconds (Rule 21-4) In a direct substitution, the player must swim directly to the reentry area from the field of play, but in this case, the departing player instead left the field of play under the end line on the opposite side of the pool. The referee should then remove the player who entered the field of play from the reentry area without penalty as that player entered at that time due to the mistake of the player leaving the field of play at the improper location..
Rule 6 Officials
Rule 6-1 Desk Observers 8-27-07
Situation: The visiting team had an official observer/scorekeeper at the scoring table who cheered after each goal for that team. What action should the referee take?
Ruling: The official observer at the scoring table is considered to be part of the desk officials and must act in a neutral, professional manner during a game. The desk supervisor, if present, or the referees must order the observer/scorekeeper to cease this action or leave the scoring table.
Rule 7 Referees
Rule 7-1 Authority of Referee 9-08-08
Situation: A team shot the ball. The referee immediately signaled a goal. The goal judge immediately signaled no goal. Which takes precedence?
Ruling: The referee has complete authority over the goal judges and desk officials; therefore, the ruling is that the goal scored.
Rule 7-1 Referee Attire 9-08-08, revised 8-10-10
Situation: One referee at a game wore shorts. What action should the site administrator take?
Ruling: The referee is not allowed to wear shorts or sandals. Both referees in a game must be attired similarly. The tournament director or site administrator must report violations of this rule to the conference commissioner and assigning authority so that this may be corrected for subsequent games. The rules also provide that a tournament director, because of extreme heat, may make a temporary adjustment in the rules during a tournament. However, each conference shall decide who has the authority to make this decision (the conference commissioner or the tournament director). At all times both referees shall be dressed in similar attire (both in white shorts or both in white long pants).
Rule 7-2 Altering Decision 10-3-07
Situation: The whistle was blown for a foul. One referee pointed towards one end of the pool, indicating a change in possession. The other referee pointed towards the original offensive end. Players of the team then on defense turned to swim towards the opposite end of the pool. The referee pointing in that direction, however, dropped the hand and the team maintaining possession of the ball continued its offense. What should the referees have done in that situation?
Ruling: If the hand signals of the two referees differ (if, for example, the referees point in opposite directions), the ball should be called out of the water; and play is resumed as quickly as possible when neither team has an advantage.
Rule 7-4 Head Coach-Referee Discussion 10-03-07, 8-05-09
Situation: The head coach approached a referee at half time, walking down to the other end of the pool past the other team’s bench to the location of the referees. The referee, however, did not allow any conversation with the coach, stating that the coach could not walk past the other team’s bench. Is this the correct call?
Ruling: No. The head coach may address the referee at this time. The rule provides that the head coach and captain may address the referees at intervals between periods, during timeouts, when filing a protest, or with the permission of the referee. The referee must either allow the coach to come to the position of the referees or the referee should move to where the coach is located. They may only discuss rule clarifications and misapplication of rules with the officials at these times, not judgment calls made by the referees.
Rule 7-4 Control Over Conduct 11-15-07
Situation: The referee awarded a yellow card to the bench because players were standing. One player on the bench later commented loudly on the referee’s call. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should award a red card to that player. No warning or yellow card is issued to an individual athlete. The player is excluded for the remainder of the game and for the next game.
Rule 7-4 Control Over Conduct 8-10-10
Question: May a referee issue more than one yellow card to the same person?
Answer: No. A referee may award more than one yellow card to different individuals on a team (for example one yellow card to the head coach and another yellow card to an assistant coach), but not more than one yellow card to the same person. If that person continues with the same behavior or commits a different type of misbehavior, the referee will then award that individual a red card. Yellow cards are not issued to individual players.
Rule 7-4 Location of Coach Issued a Red Card 3-12-07, revised 8-10-10
Situation: A coach was issued a red card. The coach remained in one corner of the pool, away from the field of play. Is this allowed?
Ruling: No. The referee must require the coach to leave the pool deck and sit in the spectator stands for the remainder of the game. (The only exception to the location of the coach in the spectator stands is if there is a tournament committee, such as at the NCAA Championships, for example, and if that committee decides to keep the coach in an area near the committee, under that committee’s direct supervision.) The referee may abandon the game if the coach refuses to move to the spectator stands (Rule 7-6). The tournament committee has the authority to rule if the game is a forfeit (Rule 7-11). If there is no tournament committee, the referee shall report this abandonment of game to the conference commissioner, who has the final authority to decide the outcome of the game.
Rule 7-4 Issuance of Red Card 11-18-08
Question: A referee awarded a red card to a coach during a game. Must the referee stop play and call the ball out of the pool in order to award the card?
Answer: Yes. The rule requires that when a yellow or red card is awarded, the referee shall whistle to stop play without taking the advantage away from the non-offending team, call the ball out of the pool and show the appropriate card. The referee must also notify the game secretary as to whom the card was awarded. If a referee on the opposite side of the pool from the scoring table awards the red or yellow card, that referee must notify the referee on the side of the scoring table who must then inform the secretary. The referee shall then put the ball back into play. A goal may not be scored by a direct shot on goal in this case because the referee had removed the ball from the field of play.
Rule 7-4 Control Over Conduct 8-05-09
Question: If the referee sees before the game that there is only one coach and no other representatives of the institution on the bench, should the referee take any action?
Answer: There is no requirement that the referee take any action prior to the game. To prevent a potential delay later in the game, however, the referee could ask the coach if he/she wanted to declare another institutional representative prior to the game.
Rule 7-4 Control Over Conduct 8-10-10
Situation: A coach received a red card during a game and was excluded for the remainder of that game, sitting in the spectator stands. The coach was also suspended from the next scheduled game (see Rule 7-4 for details). At that game, the coach conducted warm-up and then went to the spectator stands to watch the game, 10 minutes prior to the game. The team won the game and the coach immediately came over the railing onto the pool deck to congratulate the team. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The jurisdiction of the referees begins 30 minutes before the game and ends five minutes after the conclusion of the game or when any protest procedure has been completed (Rule 7-1). The individual who has received a red card in the previous game may not communicate with the team by any method during the entire time of the jurisdiction of the referees in the game at which the suspension is being served. The referee shall report the rules violation both before and after the game to that coach and then to the conference commissioner and assigning authority. The conference commissioner must determine the additional penalty for this rules violation and report the incident and additional penalty to the appropriate athletics director.
Rule 7-5, 7-6 Coach Behavior 10-20-06
Situation: A coach loudly criticized the referee, running down the side line yelling at the referees. The actions of the coach incited similar behavior in the crowd. What action should the referee take?
Ruling: The referee should immediately award a red card to the coach and order the removal of the coach from the pool deck to the bleachers as the behavior of the coach prevents the referees from carrying out their duties in a proper and impartial manner. The referee may also abandon the game if the behavior of coaches, players or spectators prevents the game from being brought to a proper conclusion.
Rule 7-7 Referee Reporting Responsibility 8-05-09, revised 8-10-10
Question: In each conference the referees shall report to the conference commissioner, the NCAA coordinator of officials and the assigning authority the issuance of a red card and the game exclusion of a player for flagrant misconduct and fighting, conduct for which the penalty involves suspension for the remainder of the game and for one or more additional games. The conference commissioner must in turn report the occurrence of a these offenses to the athletics director of the appropriate institution. How should the referee report such items if the coach or players involved belong to different conferences?
Answer: The referees still report all such incidents to the conference commissioner of the host institution, preferably within 24 hours. If more than one conference is involved, the commissioner of the host conference shall forward a complete report of the incident to the other commissioner(s), preferably within 24 hours of receipt of the original report. Then that commissioner will notify the appropriate athletics director of the offense.
Rule 7-7 Referee Reporting Responsibility for Misconduct 8-10-10
Question: Must the referee report the foul of misconduct to the conference commissioner?
Answer: Yes. However, the conference commissioner does not forward this report to the athletics director of the appropriate institution. If the offending player belongs to a different conference, the conference commissioner of the host team must report the occurrence of misconduct to the appropriate conference commissioner.
Rule 7-8 Checking and Signing Scoresheet 11-15-07, revised 8-10-10
Situation: Flagrant misconduct, a fight, and players entering the field of play during the fight occurred near the end of a game. The referees imposed the correct penalties but did not notify the game secretary of the ruling of flagrant misconduct/fighting as required by the rules. The secretary recorded these on the scoresheet as exclusion fouls, not as flagrant misconduct fouls. The referees signed that scoresheet after the game.
Ruling: The scoresheet is the official record of the game. The referees erred in signing a scoresheet that did not have the correct notation of these reportable fouls. The referee must check to verify that yellow and red cards, misconduct, flagrant misconduct, and any punishment (penalty fouls) awarded subsequent to a third personal foul are recorded on the scoresheet and that the appropriate coaches have been informed of the occurrence of these fouls (with the exception of a yellow card unless required by the host conference). There are follow-up penalties for flagrant misconduct, red cards, and for participating in a fight. To assist the referees with the notification of the head coaches, it is recommended that a triplicate (3-part) scoresheet be used.
Rule 7-9 Correctable Errors 8-05-09
Question: Does the definition of correctable errors include errors made by players or coaches (examples: a coach calling a timeout at a time not allowed, a player swimming under the end line to retrieve a ball, or an excluded player climbing on the deck and walking to the reentry area)?
Answer: No, the definition of a correctable error includes technical errors by desk officials, equipment malfunction, and misapplication of rules, errors which should be corrected in the interest of fairness. It does not include errors made by coaches or players.
Rule 7-9-b Signal for Reentry of Player 12-04-06
Situation: A player was excluded for 20 seconds. The player was waved in at the proper time (both the game clock and the shot clock showed that 20 seconds had elapsed at the time of the wave-in) and the player came under the end line with 14 seconds remaining on the shot clock as a goal scored. That team’s coach stated the player was waved in incorrectly and the goal should be removed. What should be the ruling of the referee?
Ruling: The referee has the authority to determine if the error was significant. In order to disallow a goal, the error must have affected play. In this case the flag was not late and the player coming under the end line with 14 seconds remaining on the shot clock would be a typical response time. The referee should take no action.
Rule 7-9-h Timing Error 10-20-06
Situation: The score was tied in a game. The team with white caps had the ball with 12 seconds remaining in the game and with two seconds remaining on the shot clock. The player with the ball was fouled outside the 5-meter line and the ball was knocked a few feet away. While the player was retrieving the ball, the shot clock expired. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee must take the ball from the water, reset the shot clock to two seconds, put two seconds back on the game clock, and then give the ball back to the player in the white cap to take the free throw. That player cannot take a direct shot on goal as the ball may not be shot if the referee calls the ball out to correct a clock error (Rule 14-3-h). Although this action takes away the advantage (Rule 7-3) from the player with the ball and is against the spirit of Rule 7-9 (correctable errors), there is no other way within the rules to handle this. For example, if the referee motioned to the players to play on, the referee could not know with certainty that all players understood the situation (that they were to ignore the shot clock buzzer). In addition, if the player did not take and score a direct shot, the referee would have had to then stop play to correct the game clock error as two seconds had been run off in error. Also, the shot clock may have expired or not, depending upon the action of the player with the ball, in which case the ball might need to be turned over to the blue team.
Rule 7-9-h Timing Error 2-27-09
Question: A player with a blue cap was excluded at 5:24. The coach of the white team immediately called a timeout. However, both clocks had been restarted and continued to run for 3 seconds, with the shot clock now at 32 seconds and the game clock now at 5:21 before the game was stopped for the timeout. What should be the action of the referee?
Answer: The referee should reset both clocks (game clock to 5:24 and shot clock to 35) so that the excluded player is out for the full 20 seconds and so that the white team has the entire possession time of 35 seconds.
Rule 7-9-h Timing Error 8-05-09
Question: The referees excluded a player with 2 seconds remaining in the game. The game clock operator did not stop the clock so the clock buzzer sounded before the referee had restarted play. The referee concluded the game at that point, saying the team could not have scored with 2 seconds remaining. What should the referee have done?
Answer: Since the time of the exclusion was at :02 (there was no disagreement on the time), the referee should have restarted play. A player could pass to a player who could have tipped it in the goal, since the goal would count if the buzzer sounded while the ball was in the air from the second player.
Rule 7-9-k Exclusion of Player Without a Cap 8-10-10
Situation: A player who lost his cap was excluded. The referee started play without informing the scorekeeper of the cap number of that player. When asked, the referee stated he did not know. Several players had two personal fouls. What should be the action of the referee?
Answer: The referee should stop play after approximately 5 seconds (to enable the team time to score a quick goal on the extraman situation), pull the ball out, have the player put on the missing cap, inform the scorekeeper of the cap number, and check that the player is an eligible player. The referee should reset the game clock to the time of the exclusion, reset the shot clock and restart play.
Rule 7-9-k Interruption of Extraman Situation 3-12-06
Situation: With 4:53 remaining in the game, the team with blue caps had a two goal lead and was defending an extraman situation. The white team set up its power play offense and for 17 seconds maintained possession and successfully passed the ball in order to set up an appropriate shot on goal. With three seconds remaining in the white team’s man-up situation, a stray ball from an adjacent warm-up area behind the goal entered the field of play. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: If the entrance of the ball affects play, the referee should stop the game, remove the ball, instruct the timekeepers to reset the game clock and shot clock, and restart the extraman situation. It would not be in the spirit of Rule 7-9 for the referees to restart play with three seconds remaining on the player advantage situation. The offense would not have enough time to benefit from its advantage. The player with the ball who was outside the 5-meter line could not take a direct shot on goal because the referee had called for the ball (Rule 14-3-e). Knowing this, the defense would press the other five offensive players, most likely preventing a goal in the remaining three seconds. Similar action should be taken if a lane line holding the goal in place breaks, if the clock fails, etc., if the event affects the extraman advantage situation.
Rule 7-9-h Timing Error 8-05-09
Question: With 20 seconds remaining in a game and with the score 4-3 in favor of the blue team, a player was excluded from the blue team. The game concluded without a goal scored or additional personal foul assessed. At that point the losing coach protested that the game clock had been started incorrectly after that exclusion. Investigation revealed that the coach was correct. The game clock had started when one player passed the ball back to the player who the referee had indicated should put the ball into play. What should be the action of the referee?
Answer: The referees verified that the error had occurred, with four seconds being run off before the clock should have started. The referee reset the game clock to the time of the exclusion and the teams replayed the last 20 seconds of the game.
Rule 7-10, 11-5, 5-1 Replay of Game 8-05-09, Rev. 8-10-10
Question: In the above situation, the protest was resolved after the conclusion of the game. Must each team restart the game with the same seven players that were in the pool for the last 20 seconds of the game? In this case there were only 20 seconds to be replayed. In other cases a much longer period of time or even the entire game must be replayed. What principle must be applied to determine which players are eligible to play?
Answer: Even though only 20 seconds of this game must be replayed, there was no way of accurately determining which players were in the field of play for the last 20 seconds of the game other than the excluded player (that player or a substitute must return to the reentry area).The principle to be followed is that if a game (or portion of a game) is to be replayed, then goals, fouls (including minor act of misconduct), and timeouts that occurred during the time to be replayed are lined through on the scoresheet; however, misconduct, flagrant misconduct, red cards and yellow cards are not removed from (lined through on) the scoresheet All players who had not been excluded for the remainder of the game (at any time from the beginning of the game through the original end of the game) are eligible to play. Note: if a player received a third personal foul during the part to be replayed, that player would be eligible to participate in the part to be replayed as that foul would have been lined through.
Rule 7-10 Protest Involving Teams From Two or More Conferences 8-05-09
Question: In a tournament a protest involved teams from two difference conferences. How should this protest be handled?
Answer: If the protest is not handled by the referees and there is no tournament committee, the rule states that the protest is to be settled by the sponsoring conference or agency. If the tournament was sponsored by a particular team in a conference, the appropriate governing authority shall be the conference to which the host school belongs.
Rule 7-10 Protest Over Misapplication of Rules 12-04-06
Situation: The coach of the losing team in a situation where a referee restarted play with a 6 on 5 instead of a 6 on 4 extraman situation (due to a misinterpretation of the rule) filed a protest after the game within the correct time period. The protest was upheld at the site. Should the entire game be replayed at a later date or should play be resumed at the point of the referee error the same day?
Ruling: Play should resume at the point of the error that same day, following the procedure in Rule 11-5.
Rule 7-10: Record of the Protest 11-18-08
Question: A protest was filed during a game and decided by the referees or by a tournament committee during a tournament. Where should the record of the protest be filed?
Answer: The protest and the decision on a protest either filed during a game or after a game must be recorded on the scoresheet or attached to the scoresheet as part of the official record of the game and reported by the referees to the conference commissioner.
Rule 7-10 Who Can File a Protest 11-18-08
Question: If one coach realizes that the referees have made a serious error in the application of a rule during a game in a tournament, can that coach file a protest during the game, even if that protest would seem contrary to that team’s interests?
Answer: There is nothing in the protest rule that prevents either team from filing a protest during a game. Since it could be advantageous for both teams to only replay part of one period instead of three periods, for example, if the protest were filed by the injured team after the game, either team has the right to file a protest so that the issue is looked at sooner rather than later.
Rule 7-11 Forfeit 11-18-08
Question: Two teams were scheduled to play a tournament game at 5:30 pm, but the start of the game was delayed due to the late completion of a game earlier that day. One coach informed the other coach that his/her team could not stay later to play the game, and must leave because of travel arrangements. What is the outcome of the game?
Answer: Unless there is mutual consent of both teams to either reschedule or cancel the game, the game is recorded as a forfeit in favor of the team which was able and ready to play the game at any time that day.
Rule 8 Goal Judges
Rule 8-3 Ball Retrieval Over End Line: See cases in Rule 3-5.
Rule 9 Timekeepers
Rule 9-1 Timing of Regular Timeouts 9-08-08
Situation: The institution does not have timing equipment that allows the game timer to readily time regular timeouts. Who shall time the timeouts in this situation?
Ruling: The referees must determine before the game if it is referee or if it is the game timer who will time the regular timeouts and give the warning signal (see also Rule 6-2 and Rule 12-1). If the institution has the proper timing equipment (on the scoreboard or with a stop watch), the game timer shall time the regular timeouts and give the warning signal. If the institution does not have the proper equipment to time regular timeouts, the referees shall continue timing regular timeouts. In addition, the referees, by the rules, must time the 30-second timeouts, unless there is a timeout secretary at the desk.
Rule 9-2 Reset of Shot Clock on Ball Under Call 8-10-10
Situation: The referee signaled ball-under but did not turn the ball over, the original player still maintaining possession of the ball. The shot clock operator reset the shot clock. Play continued. The coach on defense protested that the shot clock should not have been reset. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee agreed with the coach, stating that there was not a change in possession. Therefore, the referee had the timers reset the game clock to the time of the ball-under call and reset the shot clock to the appropriate time. The shot-clock timer shall reset the shot clock on a ball-under call only if there is a clear change of possession, not a momentary touching or contact with the ball. The player has to be in control of the ball.
Rule 9-2 and Appendix E, Part 4, #9 Time Displayed on Shot Clock 11-18-08
Question: The shot clock is set by the host so that if the shot clock is reset when less than 35 seconds remain in the period, the shot clock assumes the time on the game clock. Is this correct?
Answer: No. Rule 9-2 states that the timekeeper shall turn off (blank) the shot clock when less than 35 seconds remain in the period and a new 35-second period of possession is awarded. Note: by default in some new timing systems, the shot clock is set so that the shot clock assumes the game time when the shot clock is reset when less than 35 seconds remain in the period. This default setting should be changed so that the shot clock blanks when it is reset when there is less than 35 seconds in the period in order to eliminate confusion on the part of the coach and players and to conform with the rules.
Rule 9-3 Goal Scored at End of Period 8-10-10
Situation: A shot is taken near the end of the period. The buzzer for the end of the period sounds while the ball is in the air. If the ball then crosses the goal line, does the goal count and what time is awarded?
Answer: The goal counts. The time of the goal is recorded as 0:00, since the goal scored after the end of the period.
Rule 10 Secretaries
Rule 10-1 Duties of the Game Secretary 8-10-10
Situation: The home team scoresheet is the official record of the game. How is the visiting team informed of the occurrence of reportable fouls?
Ruling: The referee (Rule 7-8) must verify that both coaches are informed of the occurrence of these fouls. To facilitate this, the home team should use either a triplicate scoresheet so that each coach receives a copy showing clearly the occurrence of these fouls or a computerized scoresheet, with each coach receiving a copy after the game.
Rule 10-2 Duties of the Exclusion Secretary and Rule 21-17 Interfering with Play 8-05-09
Question: A player was excluded for the second time and then interfered with play while leaving the pool. A penalty foul was awarded against the excluded player, that foul making that player’s third personal foul. The exclusion secretary raised the red flag to indicate that this is the third foul on that player. Does the exclusion secretary also blow the whistle?
Answer: No. Even though the exclusion secretary usually blows the whistle and raises the red flag when a third personal foul is a penalty foul as substitution must take place before the penalty shot, that is not true in this case as the penalty throw is taken with the substitute for the excluded player in the reentry area. Therefore, the exclusion secretary should only raise the red flag.
Rule 11 Duration of the Game
Rule 11-5 Replay of a Game 8-10-10
Situation: A coach protested after a game that a referee failed to award a penalty throw when an excluded player on defense entered the field of play early (the referee excluded the player for another 20 seconds but did not also award a penalty throw) at 7:05 in the third period. From that time to the end of the game, one player was excluded for misconduct at 6:15 in the third period, a coach received a red card at 6:16 in the fourth period), and several players on both teams scored goals and received exclusion fouls and a yellow card. How is the game restarted?
Answer: Before restarting the game at 7:05 in the third period by conducting the penalty throw, the referee removed the goals scored from 7:05 in the third period to the end of game, together with exclusion fouls, penalty fouls and timeouts called during that period of time. The red card, yellow card, and fouls of misconduct and flagrant misconduct remain on the scoresheet. The player excluded for misconduct and the coach issued a red card may not play or coach in the part to be replayed even though these fouls occurred later in the part to be replayed.
Rule 12 Timeouts
Rule 12-1 and Rule 12-5 The Award of a Timeout 9-08-08
Situation: The coach of the team on defense signaled (by calling timeout or by the use of an air horn) for a timeout when it appeared that the team on defense was about to take possession of the ball but the team on offense still definitely had possession of the ball. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: Since the coach on defense called the timeout, the referee must blow the whistle and award a penalty throw to the team on offense as the team on defense was not entitled to call a timeout at that time.
Rule 12-1 Visible Display of Timeouts 11-18-08, revised 8-10-10
Question: Do the rules require the host to have a visible display of timeouts remaining?
Answer: Yes. There must be a visible display of timeouts remaining, either on an exclusion board or on a visible flip card system or a white board at the scoring table. Either system must display initially three regular timeouts and one 30-second timeout. If the game goes into overtime, either the exclusion board or a white board or flip cards must display initially one regular timeout for each team (unused regular timeouts are removed) and the 30-second timeout if it had not been previously used.
Rule 12-2 Position of Players During Timeout 9-14-06
Situation: An excluded player climbed from the water during either a regular timeout or a 30-second timeout to meet with the team and then walked down the deck to the reentry area to enter the pool when signaled. What action should the referee take?
Ruling: No action. During a timeout (either regular or 30-second) an excluded player may leave the water, meet with the team and then move down the deck to the reentry area. If the coach substitutes for the excluded player, the player need not go to the reentry area before a substitute can enter the pool at the appropriate time. This is also true after a goal or between periods.
Rule 12-3 Starting After Regular Timeout 12-04-06
Situation: A regular timeout was called during play. After the warning whistle at 1:45, the players moved to take up positions anyplace in the pool in order to resume play as after a timeout. The referee threw the ball on the half-distance line even though the player taking the free throw was approximately 5 yards behind half. What should the referee have done?
Ruling: After a timeout, the players may take any position in the field of play and one member of the team in possession of the ball puts the ball in play at or behind the half-distance line. The referee should throw the ball to the player who signals that he/she is the player putting the ball into play as long as the player is behind the half-distance line at the conclusion of the timeout. If a timeout is called before a penalty throw, play restarts with the taking of the penalty throw.
Rule 12-3 Starting After Regular Timeout 8-05-09
Situation: When 30 seconds remained in a regular timeout, the players on the team on offense moved down to the offensive end of the pool. Should the referee allow this?
Ruling: No, unless the coach calling the timeout had notified the referee that the team wanted to resume play early. If that had happened, the referee must inform the other team and give the warning signal at that time. If this notification of shortening had not occurred, teams may not take up their positions to restart until the referee or timekeeper signals when 15 seconds remain in the timeout. If the coach had not requested to start early, the referee must motion the players to return to their half of the course.
Rule 12-3 Timeout After the Award of a Corner Throw 11-18-08
Question: A corner throw is awarded. The team on offense immediately called a timeout. How is the ball put into play after the timeout and what time should be displayed on the shot clock?
Answer: The shot clock must be reset to 35 seconds when a corner throw is awarded (Rule 9-2-f). When a timeout is requested before the taking of a corner throw (or penalty throw), that throw shall be maintained. Therefore, play is restarted by taking the corner throw, with players taking any position in the field of play, with the shot clock reset.
Rule 12-3 Starting after a Timeout 2-27-09
Question: The team in blue caps scored a goal with 15 seconds remaining in the period. The team in white caps immediately called a timeout. How should play be restarted after the timeout?
Answer: A player from the team in white caps shall put the ball in play after the timeout at or behind the half-distance line on the whistle of the referee as after a timeout. Players may take any position in the field of play.
Rule 12-4 Additional Timeout Requested by Team on Offense 9-14-06, revised 8-10-10
Situation: The coach of the team in possession of the ball requests a fourth regular timeout by signaling with an air horn and making the proper signal. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee must stop the game on the signal of the coach. Play shall be restarted by a player of the opposing team putting the ball into play at or behind the half-distance line as after a timeout. The referee may not ignore the signal, even if the referee realized that the coach was making a mistake. The team requesting an extra timeout in Rules 12-4, 12-5, and 12-6 is not charged with a timeout, but is penalized according to the rules. However, if the team had not used its 30-second timeout, the referee could award instead a 30-second timeout and the team would not lose the ball.
Rule 12-5 Timeout Called by Team on Defense 9-08-08
Situation: The team on defense called a timeout with an air horn during a one on nobody. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should blow the whistle stopping play and then award a penalty throw to the team on offense. If the referee believed that this action was a deliberate effort by the coach on defense to stop the fast break to prevent the scoring of a goal, the action of the coach could be regarded as disruptive behavior and the referee could award the coach a red card (Rule 7-4).
Rule 12-7 30-Second Timeout 8-10-10
Question: The team on offense called a 30-second timeout to move the team to the other end of the pool. Is the referee allowed to shorten the timeout?
Answer: The team on offense can shorten a 30-second timeout in the same manner as a regular timeout. If the coach wishes to shorten the 30-second timeout before the warning signal at 20 seconds, the coach calling the timeout must notify the referee that it is ready to start. The referee will notify the other team and start play 10 seconds later. If the coach signals for a timeout, at a time allowed by the rules for a timeout, the referee awards a regular timeout unless the referee sees the correct signal for a 30-second timeout (touching both shoulders).
Rule 12-7 30-Second Timeout 8-10-10
Situation: The team on offense called a second 30-second timeout. What is the action of the referee?
Ruling: Since the team had already used its 30-second timeout, the referee shall instead award a regular timeout unless the coach specifically states it does not want to do this. (The referee would then turn the ball over.) The coach may shorten this timeout, as described in Rule 12-2. If the team had already used all its timeouts (regular and 30-second), the ball shall be turned over and the ball put into play as described in Rule 12-4.
Rule 13 The Start of Play
Rule 13-1 Choice of Ends 8-10-10
Question: May a coach request a coin toss for ends in a tournament where ends were preassigned?
Answer: Yes. The right to request a coin toss takes precedence over the preassignment of ends.
Rule 13-1 Change of Sides Each Period 8-10-10
Question: May either coach also request that the teams change ends after each period?
Answer: Yes. In this case, the referees do not change sides in the game.
Rule 13-3 Position of Referees at the Start 8-10-10
Question: In a game without goal judges, may the referees start on the 5-meter line in order to better detect push-offs or an early start?
Answer: The referees may start on the 5-meter line only if a ball-release device is used with a center sprint.
Rule 14 Method of Scoring
Rule 14-3 Direct Shot 8-10-10
Question: A foul is committed outside the 5-meter line with the ball behind the player fouled. One of the players behind (outside) the point of the foul took an immediate direct shot at the goal without hesitation or faking and scored. Does the goal count? Must the referee indicate where the ball is to be put in play before the player may shoot in this situation?
Answer: The goal counts. There is nothing in the rules to require that the referee point to the precise spot from which a direct shot may be taken or to the exact player who may take this shot, provided that the shot is taken at any place on the line of the foul or behind that line.
Rule 14-3 Shooting a Goal Throw 9-08-08
Situation: The rule states that in order to score a goal at least two players of either team but excluding the defending goalkeeper must intentionally play or touch the ball except, for example, at the taking of an immediate shot from a goal throw. May a field player taking a goal throw take a direct shot on goal?
Ruling: Yes. A goal throw can be taken by any player of the team from anywhere within the 2-meter area, but shall be taken by the player nearest to the ball (Rule 16-2).
Rule 14-3 Shooting a Goal Throw 2-27-09
Question: The ball was shot over the goal. The coach threw a replacement ball to the goalkeeper who then took a direct shot. If the ball entered the goal, does the goal count?
Answer: Yes. The rules provide that the goal counts if the goal is scored on an immediate shot from a goal throw.
Rule 14-3 Direct Shot from Ball Leaving Side of Field of Play 12-04-06
Situation: A defending field player on the white team tipped a shot over the side line. After the ball was given to the white goalkeeper to put into play, the goalkeeper took a direct shot on goal and the ball entered the goal. Should the referee allow the goal?
Ruling: No. The goal does not count since a goal may not be scored directly from the restart after the ball left the side of the field of play. However, the ball may be shot and a goal scored if the ball went over the goal line and is awarded to the goalkeeper. See Rule 16-2 for explanation of who may take a goal throw.
Rule 14-6-e Illegal Shot 8-23-06
Situation: A player was fouled inside the 5-meter line and took a direct shot on goal. The defender put up two hands. Should the referee award a penalty shot?
Ruling: No. The referee should turn the ball over to the defense since the ball was shot illegally (see also Rule 14-3) and the goal does not count.
Rule 17 Corner Throws
Rule 17-1 Corner Throw
Situation: A player on offense shot the ball and the ball rebounded off the goalkeeper or off the face of the goal. The rebounding ball struck a defender, and the ball then bounced over the goal line out of bounds. To which team should the referee award the ball?
Ruling: The referee should award a corner throw to the offense. The actual shot is completed when the ball rebounded off the goalkeeper or off the face of the goal. Since the rebound after the shot then subsequently struck a defender and the ball then bounced from a defending field player over the goal line, the referee should award a corner throw because the team on defense last touched the ball.
Rule 18 Neutral Throws
Rule 18-1 When Awarded 2-27-09
Question: A player from each team was excluded when neither team had possession of the ball. How should the game be restarted? When may the excluded players reenter the field of play?
Answer: The game is restarted with a neutral throw. Both excluded players may enter after the next change in possession after the neutral throw provided that the entering players have reached their reentry areas. .
Rule 19 Free Throws
Rule 19-1 Ball Over Side Line 8-27-07
Situation: A defender deflected a pass over the side line. The nearest player on the team on offense swam over the side line to get the ball, returned to the field of play, and is about to put the ball into play. Should the referee allow that player to put the ball into play?
Ruling: No. The player on offense is allowed to reach over the side line to retrieve a ball and put the ball into play at that point, but the player may not leave the field of play to do so. Since the player left the field of play without the permission of the referee, the referee should exclude the player for 20 seconds and turn the ball over to the opposing team. (See also Rule 3-5 and Rule 21-4.)
Rule 20 Ordinary Fouls
Rule 20-8 Using Two Hands to Block a Pass Outside the 5-Meter Line 8-10-10
Situation: A player used two hands outside the 5-meter line to block a pass. The referee blew the whistle for an ordinary foul. Is this correct?
Ruling: No. It is an exclusion foul to attempt to block a shot or pass with two hands outside the 5-meter line. It is an ordinary foul to touch the ball that is not being shot or passed with two hands.
Rule 20-8 Using Two Hands 8-05-09
Question: During an extraman situation, a shot was taken with three seconds remaining on the game clock. The ball rebounded off the goalkeeper to a player of the team on offense. The ball made contact with both hands of that player who then pushed the ball into the goal with two hands as the buzzer sounded for the conclusion of the game. Does the goal count?
Answer: No, the goal does not count. It is an ordinary foul for a player on offense to play or touch the ball with two hands at the same time.
Rule 20-10 Pushing or Pushing Off 8-10-10
Situation: A player on offense pushes off from an opponent during play. What should the referee call?
Answer: Pushing or pushing off is an ordinary foul. The referee should turn the ball over.
Rule 20-10, Rule 21-10, Rule 21-12 Change in Rules Relating to Dead Time 8-10-10
Question: In previous NCAA rules books, there were rules relating to dead-time fouls and double dead-time fouls, and there were differing penalties for fouls of impeding or pushing or pushing off if the fouls were committed during dead time or live time. These rules are missing from the new rules book. What is the significance of this omission?
Answer: Previously the rules provided a different penalty for a foul committed during dead time (the time before the ball was put into play) as compared with live time (the time after the ball was put into play). In practice, however, there was no difference and the term now used is “during play” to encompass both these periods of time. There is now no difference in the penalty awarded or in the location where the ball is put into play if the foul is committed before or after the ball is put into play. The wording in the new rules brings the language of the rules into conformance with actual practice.
Rule 20-14 Goalkeeper Beyond Half-Distance Line 8-10-10
Situation: With 10 seconds remaining in the game, with the team on offense ahead by one goal, the defensive goalkeeper went beyond half and guarded a player. The referee did not blow a whistle for the ordinary foul of the goalkeeper going beyond half because in this instance the referee felt it would take away the offensive advantage (Rule 7-3). A player on defense then stole the ball. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should blow the whistle as long as the goalkeeper is still beyond half and turn the ball back to the team that was originally on offense.
Rule 20-14 Goalkeeper Beyond Half-Distance Line 8-10-10
Situation: With 10 seconds remaining in the game, with the team on offense ahead by one goal, the defensive goalkeeper went beyond half and guarded a player. The referee did not blow a whistle for the ordinary foul of the goalkeeper going beyond half because the referee felt in this instance it would take away the offensive advantage (Rule 7-3). A player on offense then committed an offensive exclusion foul. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should exclude the player on offense and turn the ball over as the offensive exclusion foul takes precedence over the ordinary foul of the goalkeeper being beyond half. If the goalkeeper is still beyond half at this time, the referee should then blow the whistle for this ordinary foul committed by the team now on offense and turn the ball over again. The excluded player is eligible to enter at this time
Rule 20-16 Keeping the Ball More Than 35 Seconds Without Shooting 8-10-10
Situation: The ball was in the offensive end of the field of play. The goalkeeper was the only offensive player in the defensive end. A player passed the ball back to the goalkeeper. Should the referee turn the ball over?
Ruling: No. The referee should allow play to continue. The rule requiring the team to advance the ball has been eliminated.
Rule 20-16 Keeping the ball More Than 35 Seconds Without Shooting 8-10-10
Situation: When four seconds remained on the shot clock, a player on offense made a poor pass to another player on the same team. That player missed the pass and the ball landed between two players, one from each team. Should the shot clock timer reset the shot clock?
Ruling: No. The shot clock timer should not reset the shot clock. The ball must come into the possession of the opposing team. Therefore, in this situation, possession remains with the team on offense until the team on defense clearly takes possession of the ball or until the shot clock time expires.
Rule 20-16 Keeping the Ball More Than 35 Seconds Without Shooting 8-10-10
Situation: There were seven seconds remaining in the game, five seconds on the shot clock. The team in white caps with the ball threw the ball into a vacant corner of the pool. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should blow the whistle because the team relinquished possession of the ball and turn the ball over to the team with the blue caps. The game is stopped and the shot clock shall be reset at that time, blanking the shot clock. The clocks do not start again until the ball is put into play at the location of the ball.
Rule 20-16 Keeping the Ball More Than 35 Seconds Without Shooting 8-10-10
Question: When does the referee blow the whistle for a team relinquishing possession of the ball: when the ball leaves the hand of the player dumping the ball or when the ball lands in the vacant area of the pool?
Answer: The referee blows the whistle when the team relinquishes possession of the ball. The shot clock is reset when the referee blows the whistle and turns the ball over to the opposing team. The referee must be certain that all members of that team refuse to play the ball before blowing the whistle. If a player of the team that apparently relinquished possession of the ball is swimming towards the ball to re-take possession of the ball, the referee shall not blow the whistle and the game clock and shot clock continue running.
Rule 20-16 Keeping the Ball More Than 35 Seconds Without Shooting 8-10-10
Question: The team in white caps relinquished possession of the ball, by throwing the ball into a vacant area of the pool. The referee then blew the whistle and pointed in the opposite direction, indicating that the team relinquished possession of the ball. May the team in blue caps then immediately call a timeout?
Answer: Yes. A player in a blue cap does not have to first swim over to physically take possession of the ball. As soon as the referee blew the whistle and turned the ball over, the team in blue caps may call a timeout and the referee shall immediately award that team a timeout.
Rule 21 Exclusion Fouls
Rule 21 (General) Change in Calls When Ball is at Set 12-04-06
Question: The instructions to referees have changed since 2005-06 where the distributed instructions stated that “It is also correct to call an ordinary foul at set when the ball is on the perimeter and the two players at set are starting to get overly physical. This call can be thought of as a warning to the two players, and the next time an offensive foul or exclusion can be called.” The Points of Emphasis from 2006-07 and later do not contain these two sentences. Why were they removed?
Answer: These two sentences were removed from the Points of Emphasis for several reasons:
1. This call is confusing to the team on offense. The players at set do not know that this is intended as a warning to them. The ball would be put in play on the periphery where the ball is, so the players would not know that the whistle was meant for the players at set. Even if they did look up at the referee, the referee would be pointing where the ball is to be put into play, which is on the periphery, not at set. In fact, if the referee did point at set to indicate that the players there are overly physical, the player on the periphery could think that this is where the ball is to be put into play and pass the ball there for the free throw.
2. The call takes away the advantage from the offense. Rule 7-3 states that the referees shall refrain from declaring a foul if, in their opinion, such declaration would be an advantage to the offending player’s team. If the play is overly physical at set, the referee should make the appropriate call there (an offensive foul or an exclusion foul or a double exclusion foul).
3. The direction commonly given to referees that a referee may call this a few times in a game as a warning is not appropriate as, if the action is a foul, it should be called. If it is not a foul, it should not be called. A coach should not have to warn players that this may be called a few times in a game so don’t be surprised.
Rule 21-2, Rule 21-3 Method of Leaving the Field of Play 9-08-08
Situation: The game is being played in a narrow 25-yard pool with wall goals and with walls instead of side lines on the sides of the field of play. An excluded player climbed onto the pool deck and walked to the reentry area. What is the call of the referee?
Ruling: The player is excluded from the remainder of the game. An excluded player must not leave the water to reach the reentry area.
Rule 21-2 Fouls that are Game Exclusions But Not Misconduct 8-10-10
Question: What are examples of fouls that are penalized by exclusion of the offending player from the remainder of the game but the game exclusion is not classified as misconduct?
Answer: Rule 5-5, a player uses a substance on the hands to improve the grip on the ball after a warning; Rule 21-2, an excluded player leaving the field of play and walking to the reentry area; Rule 21-14, interference with a penalty throw; Rule 22-5, for a goalkeeper or any other defending player to pull over the goal completely; and Rule 22-6, if a player not entitled to participate, such as an 8th player, enters the field of play.
Rule 21-2 Illegal Entry 3-12-07
Situation: An excluded player exited the field of play at the end of the pool approximately two yards from the reentry area and swam under water to the reentry area. The referee signaled for play to go in the other direction after a shot went out of bounds over the goal line (this signal being the signal for reentry) just as the excluded player (still under water) reached the reentry area. The substitute for that player immediately swam under the line marking the reentry area into the pool before the head of the excluded player appeared above the surface of the water in the reentry area. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should exclude the substitute player who entered the field of play for 20 seconds for an illegal entry when the team is on offense (Rule 21-13) and turn the ball over. The head of the excluded player must appear in the reentry area before either that player or a substitute may reenter the pool. The ball should be put into play by the offense at or behind the point nearest the infraction (at or behind the 2-meter line closest to the player’s reentry area).
Rule 21-3 Substitution for an Excluded Goalkeeper During the Exclusion Period 9-08-08
Situation: A goalkeeper was excluded for 20 seconds. The team on offense immediately called a timeout. The team on defense during that timeout substituted a different goalkeeper (with a goalkeeper’s cap) into the goal for an exiting field player and another field player took the place of the excluded goalkeeper in the reentry area. Is this allowed?
Ruling: No. The excluded goalkeeper is considered to be that team’s goalkeeper even though this player is in the reentry area. The goalkeeper’s replacement in the reentry area may only be another goalkeeper. A substitute wearing a goalkeeper’s cap may not be substituted for an exiting field player during that exclusion period (as, for example, during that timeout). The referee should not allow this substitution and does not start play until the situation is corrected.
Rule 21-3 Signal for Reentry of Excluded Player 8-05-09
Question: A player is excluded. Should the referee watch the clock and wave in the excluded player at the end of 20 seconds?
Answer: No. The duty of the exclusion secretary is to wave in the excluded player at the conclusion of the exclusion time. The defensive referee shall signal reentry by a hand signal when the excluded player’s team has retaken possession of the ball during actual play.
Rule 21-3 Signal for Reentry of Excluded Player 11-18-08
Question: Should the excluded player watch the referee or should he/she watch the exclusion secretary in order to know when he/she is eligible to reenter the pool at the end of 20 seconds?
Answer: The excluded player should watch the exclusion secretary at the desk in order to know when to reenter at the end of the exclusion period. It is not a duty of the referee to signal the passage of 20 seconds and the excluded player should not have to guess which person to watch for the passage of the exclusion time. Before 20 seconds have elapsed, the excluded player may reenter upon the referee’s signal of a change in possession. The exclusion secretary does not raise the flag unless 20 seconds have elapsed.
Rule 21-3 Reentry of an Excluded Player 11-18-08
Question: Usually the exclusion secretary waves in the excluded player or substitute after 20 seconds of actual play have elapsed. When does the exclusion secretary not wave in the excluded player or substitute at this time?
Answer: The exclusion secretary would not raise the flag of the appropriate color if the excluded player has not reached the reentry area when 20 seconds have elapsed (Rule 21-3); if the head of the excluded player has not risen above the surface of the water in the reentry area (Rule 21-2); if the excluded player climbed from the side of the pool and did not go to the reentry area (the substitute may not enter until after a timeout, a goal or at the start of the next period) (Rule 21-2); or if the excluded player has three personal fouls and is no longer eligible to play and was not substituted for (Rule 21-3).
Rule 21-3 Reentry of an Excluded Player 11-18-08
Question: If the ball is stolen when 10 seconds remain in an exclusion or if possession changes because the referee awards an offensive foul, the referee turns and starts to walk towards the other end of the pool with the hand pointing to that end of the pool. May the excluded player reenter (1) if the referee motions with the other hand for the player to enter? Or (2) if the referee does not motion with the other hand for the player to enter but is pointing with one arm towards the other end of the pool and walking that way?
Answer: Yes, in both cases. The player may enter as the referee’s signal to award the throw or the change in possession qualifies as the reentry signal, provided that the excluded player has reached the reentry area in accordance with the rules.
Rule 21-3 Entry of an Excluded Player 11-15-07
Situation: A player on the white team was excluded. A player on the blue team immediately took a direct shot on goal. The shot went over the goal line and the referee blew the whistle to award the ball to the white team. The excluded player turned, before reaching the reentry area, and started to swim towards the other end of the pool. Before the ball was put into play after the direct shot, the coach of the white team called a timeout. Should the referee exclude this player for not going to the reentry area before starting to swim towards the other end of the pool?
Ruling: No. During a timeout or between periods or after a goal, an excluded player is not required to go to the reentry area before meeting with the team. Play should be restarted after the timeout even up.
Rule 21-3 Entry of an Excluded Player Who Did Not Leave the Field of Play 8-10-10
Situation: Assume that a timeout was not called in the above situation. Should the excluded player who turned around without leaving the field of play to swim to the offensive end be charged with a penalty foul for interfering with play (Rule 21-17) or should the player be charged with an improper reentry of a player on offense (Rule 21-13) after the exclusion, based on the fact that the player, although starting to swim towards the corner, immediately turned on the change of possession, and started swimming towards the offensive end?
Ruling: The player was not considered to interfere in this example, as the direct shot was taken immediately after the exclusion. Rule 21-17 is only intended to apply to the situation occurring during the time of the exclusion. If the excluded player had interfered with the direct shot or with any of the players then on offense on the player’s way towards the reentry area, then a penalty foul should be called under Rule 21-17. If the player has not left the field of play but his team retakes possession of the ball, the rule to be applied is Rule 21-13, improper reentry of a player on offense. The ball shall be turned over, and the offending player excluded with another personal foul recorded.
Rule 21-3 Reentry Area 11-18-08
Question: The rule states that the excluded player or a substitute shall be permitted to reenter the field of play when signaled when 20 seconds of actual play have elapsed provided that the player is in the reentry area. If the flag is raised and if the excluded player goes under the end line in the reentry area but swims underwater a short distance towards the center of the pool before the player’s head surfaces, should this be considered an illegal reentry?
Answer: No. There is no requirement that the excluded player must emerge from the reentry area into an area within the imaginary continuation of the boundary of the reentry area (in other words, there is no requirement that the player must swim directly straight ahead into the field of play as opposed to entering on a diagonal from the reentry area).
Rule 21-4 Leaving the Water 8-10-10
Question: What is the definition of a player leaving the field of play as opposed to a player leaving the water or leaving the pool?
Answer: The field of play is defined as the area between the side lines and the end lines. Leaving the field of play refers to a player going under the side line or under the end line but the player is still in the water. Leaving the pool or leaving the water refers to a player climbing out of the pool onto the pool deck or sitting on the steps. If a non-excluded player leaves the field of play without the permission of the referee, the player receives an exclusion foul. If an excluded player leaves the pool other than from the reentry area or leaves the pool to walk on the deck to the reentry area, the player is excluded for the remainder of the game. This is not considered to be misconduct.
Rule 21-5 Guarding a Player Taking a Free Throw 12-04-06
Situation: A field player guarding a player who is taking a free throw has one arm raised behind the head but the body and arm are within inches of the offensive player. May the referee call interference with the free throw?
Ruling: Yes. There is no set distance the defensive player has to be away from the offensive player with his/her hand straight up or behind the head; the rule is that the defensive player can not interfere with the free throw. For example, the raised hand might be behind the head of the defensive player, but if that defending player is so close that the offensive player cannot make a throwing motion without hitting the defensive player, the defender has to back away or be called for interfering with the free throw. However, the offensive player may not unnecessarily lean into or make some extraordinary arm motion into the defender to create this contact; that is, the free throw should be in a normal throwing motion.
Rule 21-5 Guarding a Shooter Taking a Direct Shot on Goal 3-12-07, 9-08-08
Situation: A player is fouled at the 6-meter line. The player picks the ball up and attempts a direct shot on goal. How may a defender guard this player?
Ruling: There is no difference in how a player may guard a player who is attempting a direct shot on goal or one who is attempting to pass. The guard may have only one arm up, which should be straight up or behind the player’s head and an appropriate distance away so that the guard is not considered to be interfering with the free throw. The penalty for guarding a player taking a direct shot with two hands is an exclusion foul if the defender is outside the 5-meter line or a penalty foul if the defender is inside the 5-meter line.
Rule 21-5 Interfering with the Free Throw 10-03-07
Situation: A defender gave the appropriate space to the offensive player for a free throw or direct shot outside the 5-meter line, but the defender is aggressively waved his/her hand behind the head in an attempt to cover more area to block a shot. Should the defender be excluded?
Ruling: The rule is that the defender can not interfere with the taking of a free throw, goal throw, corner throw or direct shot on goal. There is no set distance that the defender must be away from the person putting the ball in play or taking a direct shot – the key is that the defender can not interfere. If the referee considers that the distance away is such that the defender is not interfering, the defender can wave a hand, either behind the head or directly above the head in an effort to shot block.
Rule 21-6, Rule 22-2 Use of Two Hands 8-23-06, revised 8-10-10
Situation: A player put two hands up to show that the player is not fouling the attacking player outside the 5-meter area. Should the referee allow this? Are there other examples where the use of two hands might be permissible?
Ruling: The player may put two hands up in this situation, on the perimeter, for example, but the player may not put up two hands if the offensive player is attempting to shoot or pass. The player must be prepared to immediately drop one hand if the situation changes. Note: It is usually relatively easy to distinguish between a defender who is trying to show he/she is not fouling as opposed to a defender raising both hands to block a shot or pass. If an offensive player with his/her back to the goal attempts to shoot, the defender who had raised two hands to show he/she was not fouling must immediately lower one hand. Impermissible use of two hands include the following: a player may not put up two hands to block or to attempt to block a shot or pass outside the 5-meter area (exclusion foul); a player may not put up two hands to block or attempt to block a shot within the 5-meter area (penalty foul); a player may not put up two hands to block or attempt to block a pass to prevent a probable goal inside the 5-meter area (penalty foul), (exclusion foul if it would not have lead to a probable goal); a player may not put up two hands to interfere with a player taking a free throw (exclusion foul). It is the position of the defender that determines the penalty awarded (exclusion foul or penalty foul) when the defender is attempting to block a shot or pass.
Rule 21-7 Splashing Intentionally 8-27-07, revised 8-10-10
Situation: A player inside the 5-meter line splashes a player outside the 5-meter line. What should the referee call?
Ruling: The referee should exclude the player for 20 seconds. The penalty awarded depends on the location of the face splashed, not on the location of the defender. In this case, the player on offense (the player splashed) was outside the 5-meter line. Therefore, an exclusion foul is called rather than a penalty foul. If the player splashed is inside the 5-meter line and is attempting to shoot, a penalty foul should be called.
Rule 21-10, Rule 4-1 Location of Player Excluded from Remainder of Game for Misconduct or Three Personal Fouls 8-10-10
Situation: A player who was excluded from the remainder of the game for misconduct or for having three personal fouls left the team bench for the spectator stands. Should the referee allow this?
Ruling: No. The player must remain on the team bench with cap on for the remainder of the game in the case of either misconduct or for being charged with three personal fouls. The player must leave the team bench if that player receives a red card or is excluded for flagrant misconduct but may sit in the spectator stands for the remainder of the game. That player may not communicate with the team, team officials or referees until after the period of jurisdiction of the referees (five minutes after the conclusion of the game or until the end of the protest-filing procedure).
Rule 21-10: Taunting a Player 9-08-08
Situation: A player taunted a player. What should the referee call?
Ruling: This depends on the severity of the offense. The referee may call a minor act of misconduct or misconduct.
Rule 21-10: Profanity 8-10-10
Situation: An excluded player swore at the referee while leaving the pool. The referee awarded an additional exclusion foul of a minor act of misconduct. Is this the correct call?
Ruling: No. The use of profanity is considered to be misconduct. The referee should exclude the player for the remainder of the game for misconduct.
Rule 21-10 Minor Act of Misconduct and Rule 21-17 Interfering With Play 8-10-10
Situation: A player was excluded but did not leave the field of play. The referee then charged the player with a minor act of misconduct. Is this the correct call?
Answer: No. The correct rule to be applied is Rule 21-17, Interfering With Play. This is the rule to be applied if an excluded player does not commence leaving the field of play almost immediately. A penalty throw shall be awarded to the opposing team and an additional personal foul charged to the excluded player. The player is in the reentry area for the taking of the penalty shot.
Rule 21-10 Minor Act of Misconduct Turning Into Misconduct 10-20-06
Situation: A player committed an exclusion foul and then that player made a few minor comments to the referee. However, the player’s comments escalated before the referee blew the whistle to call the minor act of misconduct. What should the referee call?
Ruling: The referee should exclude the player for the remainder of the game for misconduct. Play is restarted with a substitute in the reentry area.
Rule 21-10 Misconduct Committed by a Player in the Reentry Area 3-12-07
Situation: A player is excluded for the first time. After being in the reentry area for several seconds, the player spoke to his/her coach on the bench, making a remark critical of the referee. What should be the action of the referee if the referee overhears this comment?
Ruling: Although the referee should not focus on discussions between the coach and players, if the referee does hear the remark and feels it is directed at him/her, the referee may award that player a second exclusion foul for the minor act of misconduct or may exclude the player for the remainder of the game for misconduct for showing disrespect to the referee. If the referee excludes the player for the remainder of the game, a substitute must replace that player in the reentry area. In either case, the reentry time of the excluded player is 20 seconds from the time of the second foul and the shot clock is reset.
Rule 21-10 Misconduct After a Goal 3-12-07
Situation: A player in a white cap sunk a player in a blue cap immediately after that player in the blue cap scored a goal. The referee called misconduct, excluded the player in the white cap for the remainder of the game and awarded the ball to the blue team. Is this the correct call?
Ruling: No. This action occurred after a goal during what is commonly called interval time. If the referee felt that the action of the player in the white cap merited a misconduct call, the referee must exclude the player for the remainder of the game and the teams start even up with a free throw taken by the team in white caps as after a goal.
Rule 21-10 Misconduct or a Minor Act of Misconduct During a Timeout 8-10-10
Question: If either misconduct or a minor act of misconduct is committed during a timeout, is the shot clock reset before play is resumed?
Answer: No. The shot clock is not reset in this situation. Although usually the shot clock is reset after the award of an exclusion foul, this is an exception since the act of misconduct or minor act of misconduct was committed during a timeout. The player who committed misconduct is excluded for the remainder of the game with immediate substitution. After the conclusion of the timeout, the game starts even up with a free throw by the team that was in possession of the ball before the timeout was called. If a minor act of misconduct is committed during a timeout, that player is excluded for 20 seconds with immediate substitution. After the conclusion of the timeout, provided that this is the first minor act of misconduct during interval time in this game, the game starts even up with a free throw by the team that was in possession of the ball at the time the timeout was called. The excluded player, provided that this foul was not that player’s third personal foul, can return later to the game as a substitute. However, if another player from either team commits another minor act of misconduct during interval time, the player is excluded for the remainder of the game for misconduct, no matter to which team that player belongs.
Rule 21-10 Minor Act of Misconduct After a Third Personal Foul 11-18-08
Question: A player was excluded for the third time. On the way out from the pool, the player committed a minor act of misconduct. A live-time penalty throw was awarded, with the substitute for that player in the reentry area. The penalty shot rebounded from the goal post to a player on the team shooting the penalty shot. May the excluded player enter?
Answer: No. There has been no change in possession. The player must remain out for 20 seconds or until the ball changes hands.
Rule 21-10 Misconduct After a Third Personal Foul 8-05-09
Question: A player committed misconduct after a third personal foul, an exclusion foul. The referee awarded a red card. Is this the correct penalty?
Answer: No. The referee should have awarded a penalty shot, with a substitute in the reentry area. A red card would be awarded if a player refuses to leave the water when so ordered after a call of misconduct.
Rule 21-10 Minor Act of Misconduct and Rule 7-9: Correctable Errors 11-18-08
Question: A player committed his/her third personal foul, an exclusion foul. The exclusion secretary raised the red flag. The player was substituted and play resumed with the substitute in the reentry area. The team now on offense scored a goal five seconds later. It was then realized that the referee on the opposite side of the pool from the desk had signaled that the player committed a minor act of misconduct during that player’s exit from the pool and a penalty shot should have been awarded. As soon as this was clear, the exclusion secretary then blew the whistle as directed in the rules to stop play for the taking of a penalty shot. The referee removed the goal that had just scored and had that team take a penalty shot for a minor act of misconduct committed after a third personal foul which was an exclusion foul. Is this the correct ruling?
Answer: No. The extraman goal should stand and the penalty foul should be removed. The team should not be penalized because the desk did not see the signal for the minor act of misconduct or because the referee on the desk side did not relay the signal for a minor act of misconduct or because the referee did not remember that a minor act of misconduct committed after a third personal foul which is an exclusion foul should result in a penalty throw. Applying the principle of correctable errors (which includes the statement that technical errors by desk officials should not affect the outcome of the game), the goal should stand as a team could miss the penalty shot whereas the team had already scored the extraman goal.
Rule 21-10 Misconduct or MAM While Exiting after Third Personal Foul, an Exclusion Foul 10-03-07
Situation: A player committed the foul of misconduct or the foul of a minor act of misconduct while exiting the pool after committing that player’s third personal foul, an exclusion foul. The referee excluded the player for the remainder of the game for committing his/her third personal foul, with the substitute in the reentry area, and then awarded a live-time penalty shot for the foul of misconduct or the minor act of misconduct after a third personal foul. Is this the correct procedure?
Ruling: Yes. As soon as the exclusion secretary sees the signal for misconduct or a minor act of misconduct after the third personal foul, an exclusion foul, the exclusion secretary must immediately raise the red flag and blow the whistle. The substitute may not enter for 20 seconds or the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3, and a penalty throw is awarded.
Rule 21-10 Personal Fouls Committed During and After a Penalty Throw 8-10-10
Situation: A penalty throw was awarded to the blue team. After several warnings to an offensive and a defensive player concerning their positions and actions prior to the penalty shot, the referee excluded both players for the remainder of the game for misconduct prior to the penalty shot. Both players were immediately replaced by substitutes as this is regarded as interval time. The penalty shot was then taken and scored by the blue team. Prior to putting the ball into play, the goalkeeper of the white team was then excluded from the remainder of the game for misconduct. How should the referee restart play?
Ruling: The white team must substitute another goalkeeper (with the privileges of a goalkeeper) for the goalkeeper who was excluded for misconduct. The referee should start play with the teams even up (since misconduct occurred during interval time) with the white team putting the ball into play as after a goal.
Rule 21-11 Comparison of the Penalty for Flagrant Misconduct Occurring During Live Time and Interval Time 8-10-10
Question: Is there a difference in the penalty for flagrant misconduct if that foul is committed during play as compared with during interval time?
Answer: No. In each case the player is excluded from the remainder of the game, a dead-time penalty throw is awarded, and the team shooting the penalty throw shall get the ball back at or behind the half-distance line as after a timeout. The substitute for the excluded player must still remain in the reentry area for 20 seconds or until the earliest occurrence of an event referred to in Rule 21-3. This is contrasted with misconduct, where the procedure is different if the foul occurs during play as compared with interval time. Note: If the act of flagrant misconduct occurred during a timeout, the team calling the timeout is still charged with the timeout and the penalty shot is not taken until after the conclusion of the timeout. .
Rule 21-11 Penalty for Flagrant Misconduct 10-20-06
Situation: A player with a white cap was excluded. During the time while the referee was removing the player and communicating this information to the scoring table, a player on the blue team committed an act of flagrant misconduct. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should take the ball from the water, remove the player who committed the act of flagrant misconduct from the remainder of the game, and allow the excluded white player or substitute to enter (as there was a change of possession due to the call of flagrant misconduct). The referee should then conduct the dead-time penalty throw. The team with the white caps will get the ball back, whether the penalty shot was made or missed, with the substitute for the player who committed flagrant misconduct still in the reentry area for 20 seconds or until the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3.
Rule 21-11 Carry-Over Penalty for Flagrant Misconduct 8-10-10
Question: A player committed an act of flagrant misconduct and was excluded for the remainder of the game for flagrant misconduct, his first occurrence in the season, and was also suspended from the next game. May this suspension be served in a game added to the schedule after the date of the incident?
Answer: No. The same rules for serving a suspension for the receipt of a red card (Rule 7-4) also apply to serving a suspension for flagrant misconduct. It may be served only against teams of four-year institutions recognized as NCAA or NAIA members and the game must have been on the team’s schedule before the game in which the suspension occurred. If the game was the last game of the traditional season, the player is suspended from the first game of the postseason championship or the first game of the next traditional season, as appropriate, for the first occurrence of flagrant misconduct. If a fight was involved, both players are excluded for the next two games for the first occurrence of a fight.
Rule 21-11 Penalty for Second and Third Instances of Flagrant Misconduct in a Season 8-10-10
Question: What penalty is awarded for a second instance of flagrant misconduct in a season and for a third instance of flagrant misconduct in a season?
Answer: The penalty for a second incident of flagrant misconduct in a season is an automatic two-game suspension. The penalty for a third incident of flagrant misconduct in a season is an automatic three-game suspension with conference review. This corrects an error in the 2010-2012 Rules Book on page 105, where it states that the penalty for a third incident is suspension for the remainder of the season, with conference review. (That penalty is the penalty for the third incident of fighting in a season.) The description of the incremental penalties for flagrant misconduct and fighting is correct on page 19 in the list of new rules in the front of the Rules Book and the penalties are listed below.
Rule 21-11 Differences Between Misconduct, Flagrant Misconduct and Fighting 8-10-10
Question: What are the essential differences between misconduct, flagrant misconduct, and fighting in terms of physical contact?
Answer: Detailed descriptions are included with each rule in the rules book.
Misconduct involves overaggressive fouling, which includes elbowing to the head, face, or neck or head-butting an opponent. Other parts of the definition include verbal abuse, such as taunting or ridiculing an opponent and showing disrespect to a referee in addition to profanity. Punishment is exclusion for the remainder of the game, with substitution after 20 seconds. The penalty differs if misconduct is committed during play or during interval time (teams start even-up if committed during interval time)
Flagrant Misconduct (formerly called brutality) includes violent play, punching, kicking or attempting to kick or strike with malicious intent. Punishment includes exclusion for the remainder of the game with the award of a dead-time penalty throw, with substitute in reentry area whether penalty throw is made or missed and is the same if committed during play or in interval time. The player is also suspended for the next game for the first incident of flagrant misconduct in a season. For a second incident in that season, the player receives an automatic two-game suspension; for the third incident, an automatic three-game suspension with conference review.
Fighting is included as part of the flagrant misconduct rule, but fighting usually involves a minimum of two players or other team personnel and involves more combative action. The fighting penalty is awarded if a player instigates a fight or if players or staff come off the bench to participate. The penalty for a first incident of fighting in a season is an automatic two-game suspension; for the second incident is an automatic three-game suspension with conference review; for the third incident is suspension for the remainder of the season with conference review.
Rule 21-12 Simultaneous Exclusion Fouls 8-10-10
Situation: The referee called a double exclusion (blue team had possession of the ball) just as the game clock went to 0 and the buzzer sounded. The referee stated it was interval time and the next period was started even-up with substitutes for those players in the field of play with the excluded players eligible to enter as substitutes after 20 seconds. Is this the correct call?
Ruling: No. It is correct to start even-up (6 on 6 field players) only if the call on the two players was for double misconduct or for a double minor act of misconduct during interval time, which was not the case here. The next period should have started with a sprint, with the excluded players or their substitutes in the reentry areas. The players can enter immediately after the sprint only if there is a change of possession on the sprint.
Rule 21-12 Simultaneous Exclusion Fouls 8-10-10
Situation: A player with a dark cap was excluded. Several seconds later, but before the ball was put into play, a player in a white cap was excluded. The player in the dark cap reached his reentry area. The coach asked the referee if his player could enter because the first foul was some time before the white player was excluded – they were not simultaneous, but the second occurred before the ball was put into play. The referee did not allow the player in the dark cap to enter. The player in the white cap then arrived in the reentry area and climbed out on the pool deck and walked to the other end of the pool to his reentry area. What should have been the action of the referees?
Answer: The referee should have allowed the player in the dark cap to reenter as the exclusion fouls were not simultaneous. When the player in the white cap climbed up on the pool deck he should have been excluded immediately for the remainder of the game (Rule 21-2).
Rule 21-12 Reentry after Double Exclusion 2-27-09
Question: A double exclusion occurred when 3 seconds remained in a period when the team with blue caps had possession of the ball. Time expired with the blue team still retaining possession of the ball. The team with blue caps won the sprint at the beginning of the next period and the excluded player with the blue cap immediately entered the pool from the reentry area. What should be the action of the referee?
Answer: The player should be excluded for 20 seconds and a free throw awarded to the opposing team (Rule 21-12) because there was no change of possession (Rule 21-3). To avoid this situation, it is suggested that in the case of a double exclusion near the end of the period the referee remind the benches during the interval which team had possession of the ball at the end of the period.
Rule 21-12 Reentry After Double Exclusion 2-27-09
Question: In the above situation, when may the excluded player from the white team reenter the pool?
Answer: Since there was a change of possession when the blue player was excluded after the sprint and the ball turned over to the team with white caps, the excluded player (or substitute) from the white team may reenter at that time. The player with the blue cap must be in the reentry area until the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3.
Rule 21-13 Early Entrance of an Excluded Player 11-18-08
Question: A player was excluded when 31 seconds remained in the period. The player reentered during the 6 on 5 when 15 seconds remained on the shot clock when instructed by the coach. The exclusion secretary had not waved in the player. What is the penalty for the player on defense entering early?
Answer: The player shall be excluded for an additional 20 seconds, a penalty throw awarded and the player receives one additional personal foul, marked E-P on the scoresheet. This situation resulted because the shot clock assumed the game time when the shot clock was reset when less than 35 seconds remained in the period. The coach, not realizing this, instructed the player to enter when the shot clock showed 15 seconds, assuming that 20 seconds would have elapsed on the exclusion. An excluded player should not reenter the pool until signaled by either the exclusion secretary or by the referee if the ball turned over. See also the question about blanking the shot clock in Rule 9-2.
Rule 21-13 Early Entrance of an Excluded Player 2-27-09
Question: A player was excluded. Three seconds later a penalty foul was awarded against a player from the same team. The penalty shot was conducted, but the ball rebounded from the top of the goal into an area in the field of play away from players of either team. The excluded player reentered the field of play. What should be the action of the referee?
Answer: Because this offense was committed by a player of the team not in possession of the ball, the referee should exclude the player for 20 seconds from the time of the improper entry and award a penalty throw to the opposing team. One additional personal foul (marked as E-P) is recorded against the offending player, making a total of two personal fouls for that player.
Rule 21-13 Entering Field of Play Improperly 8-10-10
Question: Player #8 was excluded and a substitute in cap #11 replaced him in the reentry area. The substitute entered early, before being waved in. What penalty should be charged to each player?
Answer: Player #8 is charged with the original exclusion foul. Player #11 is excluded for 20 seconds and a penalty throw is awarded to the opposing team for the early reentry of a player on defense. Player #11 should receive only one personal foul, marked as E-P on the scoresheet. The time of this exclusion foul is the time of the improper reentry of substitute player #11.
Rule 21-13 Entering Field of Play Improperly 8-10-10
Situation: A player was excluded and is in the reentry area. The team on offense shot and the goalkeeper tipped the ball out over the goal line. The excluded player entered the field of play. Is this an improper reentry?
Ruling: Yes. Since the goalkeeper tipped the ball out over the goal line, a corner throw was awarded to the team on offense. Therefore, there was no change of possession. The player entering the pool is excluded again for an additional 20 seconds and a penalty throw is awarded. The player receives only one additional foul, marked E-P on the scoresheet.
Rule 21-14 Interference with Penalty Shot 3-12-07
Situation: Immediately after the referee blew the whistle for the taking of a penalty shot, the player on the right side of the shooter hit the shooter’s arm before the shooter released the ball. The penalty shot did not score. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: It is a game exclusion for a player to interfere with the taking of a penalty throw, if this interference occurred either before the referee blew the whistle or after the referee blew the whistle but before the shooter released the ball. It is considered interference if a defensive player on the side of the shooter moves towards the shooter or hits the player’s arm before the shooter releases the ball or if a defender takes other actions towards the shooter such as shouting, splashing, kicking or whistling. The offending player is excluded for the remainder of the game with the substitute in the reentry area, and the penalty shot is retaken. If this penalty shot is scored, the substitute enters immediately. If the shot is missed, the substitute may not enter until after the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3.
Rule 21-14 Interference with Penalty Shot 3-12-07, revised 8-10-10
Situation: If the player in the above case who was interfered with scored the original penalty shot, what should the referee call?
Ruling: The penalty shot is counted and the substitute enters immediately. The player who interfered with the penalty shot is excluded for the remainder of the game. Note: This game exclusion is not considered to be misconduct.
Rule 21-14 Misconduct Before a Penalty Throw is Taken 8-10-10
Situation: If a player on either team commits an act of misconduct before a penalty throw is taken, what should the referee call?
Ruling: Since a player committed misconduct before the penalty throw was taken, the offending player is excluded for the remainder of the game and a substitute enters before the penalty throw is taken, as this time is considered to be interval time.
Rule 21-15 Goalkeeper Failure to Take Position on Goal Line 3-12-07
Situation: During the administration of a penalty throw, the goalkeeper comes forward before the shot is administered. What should the referee do?
Ruling: The referee should warn the goalkeeper. If the goalkeeper fails to take up the correct position on the goal line after having been warned once by the referee, the referee should then exclude the goalkeeper for 20 seconds. Another defending player may take the position of the goalkeeper but without the goalkeeper’s privileges or limitations.
Rule 21-17 Excluded Player Interfering With Play 9-08-08, revised 8-10-10
Situation: An excluded player swims through the 6-on-5 to reach the reentry area. What should the referee call?
Ruling: If the referee believes there is interference with play, the referee awards a penalty throw and another personal foul is recorded against the excluded player, with the reentry time 20 seconds from the time the penalty throw is awarded. The penalty throw is taken with the excluded player (or substitute) in the reentry area.
Rule 22 Penalty Fouls
Rule 22-2-b Two-Hand Shot Block Inside 5-Meter Line 8-23-06
Situation: A player within the 5-meter area put up two hands in an attempt to block a shot. The referee blew the whistle for the foul when the ball was in the air. The shot went out of bounds over the goal line, untouched by any player. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee awards a penalty foul. The defending player does not have to touch the ball nor does a shot have to be taken. The player is being punished for intent.
Rule 22-2-b Two-Hand Shot Block Inside 5-Meter Line 8-27-07
Situation: A player within the 5-meter area put up two hands in an attempt to block a shot. The referee blew a whistle for the foul when the ball was in the air. The ball went into the goal, untouched by any player. What should be the award of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should award a penalty foul and does not count the goal. The goal does not count because the ball was in flight towards the goal when the referee blew the whistle for a foul (Rule 14-6-a).
Rule 22-2-b Two-Hand Shot Block Inside 5-Meter Line 8-27-07
Situation: A player within the 5-meter area put up two hands in an attempt to block a shot. The ball went into the goal, untouched by any player. The referee then blew the whistle for the foul. Should the referee count the goal? Should the referee award a penalty foul?
Ruling: Since the goal scored, the goal counts. The referee should not award the penalty foul against the player who put up two hands.
Rule 22-2-b Two-Hand Block of a Pass Inside 5-Meter Line 8-10-10
Situation: A player within the 5-meter area put up two hands to block or to attempt to block a pass. What action should the referee take?
Ruling: It is a penalty foul for a defending player to commit any foul within the 5-meter area but for which a goal would probably have resulted. Therefore, if the defending player intentionally blocks or attempts to block a pass with two hands which prevents a probable goal, a penalty foul is awarded. It is not a penalty foul if the ball is being passed to a player who is in such a position that the pass would not have led to a probable goal. The referee should call an exclusion foul in this case.
Rule 22-6 Player Not Entitled to Participate Entering the Field of Play 11-15-07
Situation: A player was removed for the remainder of the game upon the award of a third personal foul. The red flag was raised properly and was observed by the referees. Later in the game, this player entered after a change in possession as a substitute for an excluded player and was observed by the desk shortly after. What should the exclusion secretary and referee do?
Ruling: The exclusion secretary should blow the whistle as soon as the player with three personal fouls is observed. The referee should remove the player, the substitute for that player should be in the reentry area, the game clock reset to the time of entrance of the illegal player, a penalty throw awarded, and the substitute may enter after the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3.
Rule 22-8 Award of Penalty Foul in the Last Minute 10-03-07
Question: A penalty foul was awarded for either misconduct or for a minor act of misconduct committed after a third personal foul (an exclusion foul). If this situation occurred in the last minute of the game or in the last minute of the second overtime period or at any time during sudden-death overtime periods, may the coach elect to maintain possession of the ball in lieu of taking the penalty throw?
Ruling: Yes, the coach may elect to maintain possession of the ball in this situation, in lieu of taking a live-time penalty throw, with the substitute for the excluded player in the reentry area. If the third personal foul is a penalty foul and the player committed a minor act of misconduct after this foul while leaving the pool, there would be immediate substitution, and the first penalty throw is a dead-time penalty throw. The second penalty throw is a live-time penalty throw and the coach may elect to maintain possession of the ball in lieu of taking that live-time penalty throw. If the coach does elect to maintain possession of the ball, the team will be awarded a free throw on or behind the half- distance line with a new possession clock and will start play as after a timeout.
Rules 22-8 and Rule 21-11 Flagrant Misconduct Foul in the Last Minute (8-27-07)
Situation: Flagrant misconduct is committed by a player on the white team in the last minute of the game. The blue team was ahead by one goal. Should the referee ask the coach of the blue team if he/she prefers to take the penalty throw or to maintain possession of the ball?
Ruling: Yes. By the rule the referee must ask the coach his/her preference although here there may be no advantage to be gained by the coach declining to take the penalty throw and keeping the ball. This is because the penalty throw awarded for flagrant misconduct is a dead-time penalty throw, with the substitute out for 20 seconds or until the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3. The team retains possession of the ball, whether the shot is made or missed, restarting play as after a timeout.
Rule 23 Penalty Throws
Rule 23-2 Penalty Throw 8-27-07
Situation: The goalkeeper was excluded for 20 seconds and, on the way out, interfered with play, resulting in the award of a penalty throw. A field player took the place of the goalkeeper in the goal with the goalkeeper in the reentry area during the taking of the penalty throw. The field player came forward with both hands outstretched to the side in an attempt to block the penalty throw. The player blocked the penalty throw with one hand out of bounds over the goal line. What should the referee call?
Ruling: The referee should call a penalty foul against that player because the field player in the goal does not have the privileges of a goalkeeper. It is a penalty foul if a field player raises two hands in an attempt to block a shot inside the 5-meter area, no matter how high the player raised the hands or if the player blocked the ball with one or both hands or if the player did not actually touch the ball or if the shot missed the goal completely. The player should retake the penalty shot. However, if the penalty shot had scored, the goal would count and no foul would be awarded against the field player in the goal.
Rule 23-2 Position of Other Players and Goalkeeper 10-3-07
Situation: A penalty foul is awarded against a player on the blue team. The head coach of the blue team directed one of the field players to take the goalkeeper’s place in the goal for the taking of the penalty throw. Should the referee allow this?
Interpretation: No. The goalkeeper is the only person who can defend a penalty throw, provided that there is a player in a goalkeeper’s cap in the water at that time. The rule that states this most clearly is Rule 23-2: "With floating goals, the defending goalkeeper shall be positioned between the goal posts, with no part of the goalkeeper’s body beyond the goal line at water level….Should the goalkeeper be out of the water, another player may take the position of the goalkeeper but without the goalkeeper’s privileges and limitations.”
Rule 23-3 Role of the Back Court Referee in a Penalty Throw 8-27-07, revised 8-05-09
Situation: The front court referee prepared to administer a penalty throw. The back court referee took a position farther behind in the back court. The front court referee raised the arm to administer the penalty throw, blew the whistle and lowered the arm. At the same time, the back court referee blew a whistle to indicate interference. The player shot and scored the penalty shot. Should the goal be allowed?
Ruling: Yes. The front court referee, the referee controlling the throw, is responsible for lining up the players, the back court referee is watching for interference. Since the whistles were simultaneous, the goal counts, and the player who interfered with the shooter is excluded for the remainder of the game (Rule 21-14).
Rule 25 Accident, Injury and Illness
Rule 25-1 Leaving the Field of Play 12-04-06
Situation: The referee stopped play for an injury, malfunctioning equipment or to replace a cap. May the players hang onto the pool wall during this period of time?
Ruling: The referee must indicate to the players if they can hang on the side of the pool or if they must remain within the field of play. The referee usually requires the players to remain within the field of play in the case of a cap off or missing or for resetting a clock. If there is a lengthy equipment malfunction, the referee may indicate that the players may move to their bench. Otherwise, players should not leave the field of play nor hang on the side lines, etc., without the referee’s permission.
Rule 25-2 Bleeding 8-05-09
Question: With 5 seconds remaining in a game, the coach of the white team called a 30-second timeout. The referee discovered at that time that one of the players on the white team was bleeding. The referee called an injury timeout of three minutes, during which time the trainer stopped the bleeding. The player was then allowed back in the field of play and play was resumed. Is this the correct procedure for handling this type of injury?
Answer: No. There is no three-minute injury timeout in NCAA water polo. The player should have been replaced by a substitute and play should have been resumed immediately after the conclusion of the 30-second timeout. After the bleeding was stopped, the player would be permitted to enter the game as a substitute. The procedure is exactly the same for an injury that does not involve bleeding. The player is to be removed immediately and may return to the game at a later time.
Rule 25-3 Concussion 8-10-10
Situation: A player accidentally hit another player in the head. The player appeared dizzy.
Ruling: If the player is removed for an injury and exhibits concussion-like symptoms, the player may not return until cleared by the team physician or designee. If diagnosed with a concussion, the player shall not return to activity or competition that same day. For further information, please refer to Appendix G.
Appendix B Signals to be Used by Officials
Fig H To Signal the Award of a Penalty Throw, Fig. AA: To Indicate a Player’s Cap Number 11-18-08
Question: A penalty foul was committed by cap #4. How should the referee signal the scoring table that it was a penalty foul and to whom it should be charged?
Answer: The referee should first hold up five fingers to indicate the penalty foul and then indicate the cap number to whom it should be charged. In this example the referee raised five fingers, lowered that hand and then raised four fingers on that hand. This indicates that the penalty foul is to be charged against the player with cap number four. This should also be orally communicated to the desk.
Appendix B-F, G, CC Referee Signals for Exclusion Fouls 8-27-07, rev. 8-10-10
Situation: The referee needed to distinguish between the fouls of flagrant misconduct, misconduct, and a minor act of misconduct because of differing penalties. What signals should the referee use?
Ruling: The referee crosses the arms down across the abdomen for flagrant misconduct (Fig. G), rotates both hands round one another for exclusion from the remainder of the game (usually for misconduct) (Fig. F) and makes a rolling motion with one arm instead of two arms for a minor act of misconduct (Fig. CC). In addition the referee must notify the scoring table verbally of these fouls and the scorekeeper must record the nature of the foul (for example E-game flagrant misconduct, E-game misconduct, or E-MAM). However, if the player was excluded for the remainder of the game for interfering with a penalty shot, for example, the referee must inform the scorekeeper, who will then record the foul as E-game or E-game interference with penalty throw.
