Part 1: Playing Procedures

I. Team Size

• A team consists of 7 players (4 men, 3 women).  There shall be no limit to the number of eligible players on a roster.
• Teams must have at least 5 players present to start a game (either combination of 3/2).

II. Eligibility

• Only players listed on the official roster are eligible to participate on a waterpolo team.
• All players must meet the eligibility participation requirements of the UC San Diego Intramural Sports Office.
• Additions and subtractions to official team rosters must be made prior to that team’s third league game.  No changes to rosters will be accepted after that time.
• If one or both teams do not have 5 players present and ready at 5 minutes after game time, a non-roster player may participate upon approval from the  opposing team captain, and may only play one game for any particular team.  The referee must be notified concerning the participation of any non-roster player.
• An individual may play on only one team.

III. Equipment

• All game equipment (innertubes, caps, and balls) will be provided by the Intramural office.  You may bring your own tubes if you desire.

VI. Pool Dimensions

• The playing area of the pool is 25 x 15 yards.
• The goal areas are designated as those areas two yards from the end of the pool and two yards from each side of the goal.  Goal areas will be designated by orange pylons positioned on both sidelines and at the edge of each endline, two-yards from each goal post.
  • All penalty shots will be taken from the 4-YARD LINE which will be designated by the game official.

V. Starting Time

• Starting times for all games will be given on league schedules published by the IM office.
• A 5-minute forfeit time will be in effect for any team or teams not present or ready to play according to Sec-I.

VI. Game Time

• There shall be two 15-minute halves of running time with a 3-minute rest period between halves.  Teams will switch ends during the half time period.
• Tie games at the end of regulation time will be decided by a 3-minute extra period.
• If a game is still tied at the conclusion of the extra period, a sudden-death overtime period will be played with the first goal scored by either team determining the winner.

VII. Time Outs

• Three one-minute time-outs shall be allotted for each team per game. Time outs may only be called by the team in possession of the ball.  At the referee’s discretion, time-outs for an injured player may be charged to the injured player’s team time-out total.

VIII. Scoring

• A goal scored by a female will be worth 2 points.
• A goal scored by a male will be worth 1 point.
• A goal scored from beyond half pool will double the point value.
• A penalty shot from the 4-yard line shall be worth one point.
  • Players must remain in their tube after releasing the ball in order for a goal to be scored, unless a defensive player is responsible for the offensive player coming out of his/her tube.
  • Goal shots must hit the back of the goal canvas or corner bar in order to be considered a legal goal.  Goal shots hitting the side of the goal or merely passing the imaginary plane of the goal mouth without hitting the back will not count.
  • Goals scored by an offensive player within the goal area will not be counted.
  • Goals scored when a defensive player is within the goal area will be counted.

IX. Substitutions

• Free substitutions will be allowed but must take place at mid-pool on the substituting team’s defensive side.  All entering substitutes must notify the scorekeeper before entering the pool.

X. Goal Play

• GOALIES MUST BE MEN AND CANNOT BE ICA PLAYERS
• Field players may not enter the goal area
  • Violation enforcement – Minor foul, ball awarded to the goalie (if committed by the offense)
  • Violation enforcement – Minor foul, ball awarded to nearest opponent (if committed by defense).
  • NOTE:  Any penetration of the imaginary plane of the 2-yard line constitutes encroachment of the goal area
• Goalies may leave the goal area at any time.
  • Become regular field players once past 4yd line.

XI. Putting the Ball in Play

• To start a period
  • Each team will line up at opposite ends of the pool with three members of each team positioned on each side of the goal.  Play begins with a drop ball by the referee at mid-pool in the lane nearest his (the referee’s) side of the pool.
• Free Throws
  • After a free throw has been awarded, one pass must be made before any shot on goal is attempted.
  • Opponents may not touch, impede, or interfere with a free thrower’s attempt to pass the ball.
  • Free throws must be in play within 5 seconds.
• Face-Offs
  • After two simultaneous fouls are committed by opposing players, or two opposing players simultaneously control the ball, a face-off will be used to put the ball in play.
  • To execute a face-off, two opposing players will face the referee’s sideline and position themselves at the second lane line on their defensive side of the pool.
  • The referee will drop the ball in play in lane one.  The ball is in play when it hits the water.

XII. Penalty Shots

• Penalty shots must be taken by a female player.
• The player must sit in her tube at the 4-yard line and at the command of the referee, must raise the ball to a shooting position.
• At the sound of the referee’s whistle the player must throw without hesitating or faking a shot.
• A penalty throw is awarded to a team which has been fouled 10 times by the opposing team.  Another penalty is awarded for each set of 10 personal fouls thereafter.  These fouls carry from one half to the next.
• All players, except the goalie, must leave the penalty area until the throw is taken.
• No player may be within one yard of the thrower.
• If the penalty shot is missed, the ball is in play on the rebound.
• All penalty shots count one (1) point.

Part 2: Violations

I. Minor Violations

1. No player may leave his/her tube and touch or maneuver the ball.  If a player is tipped from his/her tube, the player may not touch or control the ball until he/she is back in the tube.
2. No player may attack the goalie while he is inside the goal area.
3. The goalie may not throw the ball more than half the length of the pool unless he is beyond the 4-yard line.
4. The goalie may not hold the ball for more than 10 seconds.
5. No player (except the goalie) is allowed inside the goal area.
6. Tackling an opponent who has possession of the ball is legal, but it must be accomplished without leaving the innertube (no contact to the head or above the shoulders is allowed).
7. Holding onto, or pushing off, the pool wall while in possession of the ball.
8. Holding the ball under the water.
9. Throwing or knocking the ball out-of-bounds.
10. Penalty enforcement – A free throw will be awarded the opposing team to the player nearest the violation.

II. Major Violations

1. The goalie may not push off the bottom or side of the pool while attempting to block a shot.
   • Penalty enforcement – The referee may use his/her discretion and award a goal, if appropriate, otherwise, after the first violation a warning will be given.  After the second, a penalty shot will be awarded the opposing team and a personal foul will be charged to the goalie.

 Part 3: Personal Fouls and Penalties

I. Fouls

• The following infractions will constitute a personal foul which will be assessed against the offending player and his or her team:
  • Minor Fouls:
    • Holding, pushing, kicking or tackling any player who is not in possession of the ball.
    • Leaving the innertube to tackle another player.
    • Pushing off an opposing player.
    • Goalie jumping off pool bottom after warning.(Penalty shot awarded on second foul call.)
  • Major Fouls:
    • Attacking, striking, or kicking an opponent in such a manner that the player is personally endangered.  (Referee’s discretion)
    • Flagrant refusal to obey the referee.
    • Unsportsmanlike conduct.
  • Penalty enforcement: Personal foul and team fouls will be charged to the offending player and team and the player should be immediately removed from the game.
• After ten team fouls have been accumulated by any given team, a penalty throw will be awarded to their opponents.
• An additional penalty throw will be awarded after the next set of 10 fouls.
• Fouls Carry over from one half to the next.

II. Player Suspension and Disqualification

• A player who receives 3 personal fouls is suspended from the game for one minute and the team must play one person down during this period.
• After 4 fouls the player again is suspended for one minute.
• After 5 fouls the player is removed from the game.  The offending team must play one person down for one minute; a new player may then be substituted.
• At the referee’s discretion he/she may eject a player for flagrant violations of the rules, spirit of Intramurals or unsportsmanlike conduct.  This can be done without warning and will be final.
• Any acts of aggressive physical violence will not be tolerated.  This includes throwing a punch, kicking an individual or any other aggressive acts.  Any player guilty of such an action before during or after an intramural contest shall be expelled from further participation in intramural sports for the duration of a calendar year.