Forest Grove Water Polo | Forest Grove, Oregon, USA

20 Basic Water Polo Rules You Should Know. (paraphrased version)

Basic Rules:
1. Cannot use the bottom or side of the pool to gain advantage.
2. Only one hand on the ball at a time. (except goalies)
3. An ordinary foul is holding, sinking, pulling or grabbing your opponent when they are not holding the ball.
4. Ordinary fouls usually result in a free throw awarded to the person fouled, depending on where it occurs with respect to the ball or how it affects the flow of the game or safety of the game.
5. A personal foul is most commonly called by the referee when you show disrespect to the referees, enter the pool incorrectly, or foul when someone has advantage with respect to scoring a goal. Personal fouls result in an ejection for 20 seconds. After three personal fouls, you are excluded from the game.
6. A major foul is called when you intentionally strike another player and results in the loss of privilege to play in the game and the next game. (And you might loose your spot on the team also.)
7. A goal is scored when the ball passes completely beyond the plane of the front of the goal.
8. Offensive players may not be inside the 2 meter line if the ball is not already inside the same.
9. After each goal, both teams line up at half court to re-start the game.
10. Each team is allowed 30 seconds each possession. A possession starts when the ball is put into play and ends when a goal is scored, the ball changes possession or the game period ends.
11. If the ball is shot and then recovered again after hitting an opponent or goal crossbar, a new 35 second possession is awarded.
12. Ejected players must immediately swim to the ejection area without interfering with the play. Ejection area is always located at the end of the pool where your team bench is usually in the corner nearest your bench. When the referee waives an ejected player back into the field of play, the player may not push off the wall.
13. Players may substitute by diving into the pool during time-outs, after a goal is scored or between periods. Players must substitute from the ejection area during game play and may not push off the wall or jump in.
14. Referees will award a free throw by blowing the whistle and by pointing in the direction the offensive attack should go.
15. A free throw should be taken by the nearest player of the team it is awarded to and must be taken at or behind the location the foul was committed.
16. If a foul is committed outside the 8 meter line, the fouled player may use the freethrow to score if the shot is taken immediately.
17. If a player is holding the ball, the attacking defender may grab, hold or pull the opponent to get the ball. Once the ball is released by the offensive player, defense must not be grabbing, holding or pulling their opponent or a foul will be called.
18. Interpretation of fouls varies, depending on the location of the foul with respect to the goal, and are largely defined by the rule of "advantage". The seriousness of the foul (ordinary, personal, major) has much to do with how much advantage was taken away or how much the foul threatened the safety of other athletes. For example, if offense was likely to score without the foul being committed, then a more serious foul is likely to be called.
19. Fouls that take away likely scoring opportunities are awarded to the offensive team is a penalty shot.
20. Referees should be shown the utmost respect at all times as they are responsible for the safety of the players.