INNERTUBE WATER POLO RULES INTRAMURAL SPORTS
INNERTUBE WATER POLO RULES INTRAMURAL SPORTS Each player must meet one of the following conditions to sign-in: 1) Present their own, valid WildCard before each contest to be eligible to participate. OR 2) Present a government-issued photo ID and community member pass to be eligible to participate. NO EXCEPTIONS! All Intramural Sports participants are responsible for their own medical expenses. Any participant unsure of their physical condition should check with their family physician or the student health center before participating in Intramural Sports. Game time is forfeit time! Teams are responsible for keeping their spectators under control. Misconduct of spectators, players or coach can result in ejection or forfeiture of the game. Spectators must remain in the designated seating area. Only players and coach (maximum of one) are permitted in the playing area. The officiating will be done by officials who are in absolute control of the game. The officials shall have the power to make decisions on any matters or questions not specifically covered in the rules. 1. Team Requirements 1.1 A team consists of 6 players which includes the goalie. 1.2 A team must have at least 4 players in the pool to begin a game. If a team falls below 5 players for any reason, play may continue as long as the game remains competitive. 1.3 This is an open league therefore there are no gender requirements. 1.4 No players are permitted to enter the pool until they have permission from an official, supervisor, or lifeguard. 2. Equipment & Playing Area 2.1 All tubes will be provided by the Campus Rec staff. 2.2 All players must wear swimsuits or appropriate swim attire in the pool. Street clothing such as cut-offs, sweatpants, basketball shorts, jeans, and sports bras are prohibited. 2.3 Players may elect to wear a personal floatation device (PFD) if so desired. 2.4 The goalkeeper area is from the end of the pool to the overhead lane lines and the entire width of the pool. 2.5 The penalty area is from the end of the pool to the 2nd black line.
Updated 7/3/2017
INNERTUBE WATER POLO RULES INTRAMURAL SPORTS
3. Substitutions 3.1 Substitutions may only be made between periods. 3.2 The goalie may be changed with a person already playing in the period only after a goal or with anyone on the roster between periods. 3.3 Both teams may substitute if play is stopped during a period for an injured player. 4. Length of the Game 4.1 A regulation game consists of four 7½ minute running clock quarters, a 1 – minute intermission between the 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th periods, and a 3 minute half time. 4.2 Teams will switch directions after halftime. 5. Scoring & Overtime 5.1 All goals are worth 1 point. 5.2 Mercy Rule: if a team is ahead by 4 goals with 2 minutes remaining in the second half, the game is over. 5.3 Overtime will only be played during the playoffs. Regular season or pool play games may end in a tie. 5.4 Overtime Procedures: 5.4.1 A tied score at the end of regulation time will result in as many as two 3minute sudden death running clock overtime periods. 5.4.2 If no one scores in the two overtime periods, a series of 5 penalty shots will define the winner. 5.4.3 Only players who are in the pool at the end of the overtime period may participate in the penalty shots (see Rule 9). 5.4.4 Players cannot take a second shot until all other members have had a shot. 6. The Game 6.1 Each period will be started with players lined up at their end of the pool facing the wall. When the official sounds their whistle and throws the ball in the center pf the pool, players may push off from the end of the pool and paddle to the ball to begin the period. 6.2 After a goal is score, the ball is put in play by the goalie of the opponents of the scoring team. 6.3 Goalies may not throw the ball past the midline marked by cones unless the goalie paddles out of the goalkeeper area. 6.4 No player except the goalie is permitted in the goalkeeper area. 6.5 One or both hands may be used to catch and throw the ball. 6.6 Free throws may be taken by anyone. 6.7 When a whistle is blown, players must maintain position. 6.8 Position in the innertube:
Updated 7/3/2017
INNERTUBE WATER POLO RULES INTRAMURAL SPORTS 6.8.1 Players must be seated horizontally in their tubes in order to touch the ball. They may not lay on their stomachs or place one leg through the opening and one on the outside of the tube. Exception: the goalie must fold their tube into a saddle position to straddle it but my not stand on the pool floor or jump off the floor at any time. 6.9 Possession of jump ball will be determine by a dropped ball procedure. 6.10 A ball that goes out of play is awarded to the opponent of the team that last touched the ball. 6.10.4 Possession is given at a spot on the sideline closest to where the ball went out of play, or at the 3rd line if the ball goes out over the end line. 6.11 An official may refrain from declaring a foul, if in his/her judgement such declaration would be an advantage to the offending team. 6.12 A defensive player may not grab another player’s inner tube and hold onto it, even if the player has the ball, but a player may push down on an inner tube with an open hand or hands from the top of the tube. No grabbing or pushing from underneath a player’s inner tube is allowed. 6.13 Players may not push an innertube away from another player that is out of their tube. 7. Infractions 7.1 All penalties result in a free throw from the spot of the infraction. All minor fouls result in indirect free throws. All major fouls result in direct free throws. The opponents must be 5 feet away from the thrower on all free throws. 7.2 Minor Fouls: indirect free throw give to opposing team and taken from side of playing area closest to infraction. 7.2.1 Touching the ball or another player when out of a tube 7.2.2 Not allowing an opponent 5 feet on a free throw. 7.2.3 Holding onto the pool wall while in possession of the ball 7.2.4 Goalies may not hold onto the wall once the ball crosses the 4th line. 7.2.5 Holding the ball under water. 7.2.6 Holding onto the pool wall when catching or passing the ball. 7.2.7 Deliberately hitting the ball with an open or closed hand. 7.2.8 Failing to clear the ball out of the goalie area within 10 seconds (goalie only). Goalie may not pass back and forth out of the goalkeeper area to consume time. Take the free throw at the 3rd line of the offending goalie. 7.2.9 Throwing the ball past the 4th line of the pool (goalie only). Take the free throw at the 3rd line of the offending goalie. 7.2.10 A player other than the goalie playing inside the goalie area. Only be enforced when the ball is in the same half of the court as the goalie area where the offense occurs. 7.2.11 Running on the pool deck to retrieve a ball. 7.3 Major Fouls: the offender is taken out of the game for 1 minute or until a goal is scored by the opposing team, whichever occurs first. A direct free throw is
Updated 7/3/2017
INNERTUBE WATER POLO RULES INTRAMURAL SPORTS awarded to the offended team from side of playing area closest to the foul. A removed player must re-enter the pool at his own goalkeeper area. 7.3.1 Making illegal body contact (e.g., holding, pushing, or using hands/feet to dunk an opponent not in possession of the ball). Note: the ball is considered to be in player possession if it is within arms-length of the player. 7.3.2 Grabbing/holding onto another player’s inner tube at any time, including pushing on a player’s inner tube from underneath. 7.3.3 Intentionally pushing an empty inner tube away from an opponent. 7.3.4 Dunking an opponent using anything but one or two hands from the top of the tube. 7.3.5 Hitting the ball out of an opponent’s hands. 7.3.6 Reaching over an opponent’s back to obtain the ball. 7.3.7 A goalkeeper blocking a shot while holding onto the wall or out of his/her tube (penalty shot). 7.3.8 A defensive player in the goalkeeper area that blocks a shot. 7.3.9 Interfering with a penalty shot. 7.3.10 Persistent repetition of a minor foul. 7.3.11 Unsportsmanlike conduct. 7.3.12 Deliberately splashing water in the face of an opponent. 7.3.13 Players are not allowed to re-enter the pool by jumping into their tubes in an uncontrolled or inappropriate manner. 7.4 5 major fouls committed by the same player will disqualify that player for the remainder of the game. 8. Unsportsmanlike Conduct 8.1 Unsportsmanlike Conduct: the same procedure as for Major Fouls is enforced; however 2 unsportsmanlike conducts results in an ejection. 8.1.1 Misconduct/verbal abuse. 8.1.2 Disrespecting the referee. 8.1.3 A player dunking an opponent while out of his/her tube 8.1.4 Any other unsporting act. 9. Penalty Shots 9.1 A penalty shot is given to an offensive player when a defensive player commits a major foul inside the penalty area, when a defender commits a foul in the penalty area that would have resulted in a goal, or when the goalie blocks a shot while holding onto the wall. 9.2 The offended player must take the penalty shot. 9.3 The shot will be taken from the 3rd black line. 9.4 All players, except the shooter and the goalie, must stay outside the 3rd black line until the shot is completed, and no player may be within 5 feet of the shooter.
Updated 7/3/2017
INNERTUBE WATER POLO RULES INTRAMURAL SPORTS 9.5 The official will give the ball to the shooter and blow the whistle when the shooter and the goalie are ready. The shooter must immediately and directly take the shot. 9.6 If the ball rebounds from the goal posts, crossbar, or goalie, it remains in play unless the period has ended. 10. Tournament Play 10.1 Specifics about the format of the innertube water polo special event tournament bracket and game format will be based off of participant interest and determined after registration closes.
Updated 7/3/2017
Updated 7/3/2017
INNERTUBE WATER POLO RULES INTRAMURAL SPORTS
3. Substitutions 3.1 Substitutions may only be made between periods. 3.2 The goalie may be changed with a person already playing in the period only after a goal or with anyone on the roster between periods. 3.3 Both teams may substitute if play is stopped during a period for an injured player. 4. Length of the Game 4.1 A regulation game consists of four 7½ minute running clock quarters, a 1 – minute intermission between the 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th periods, and a 3 minute half time. 4.2 Teams will switch directions after halftime. 5. Scoring & Overtime 5.1 All goals are worth 1 point. 5.2 Mercy Rule: if a team is ahead by 4 goals with 2 minutes remaining in the second half, the game is over. 5.3 Overtime will only be played during the playoffs. Regular season or pool play games may end in a tie. 5.4 Overtime Procedures: 5.4.1 A tied score at the end of regulation time will result in as many as two 3minute sudden death running clock overtime periods. 5.4.2 If no one scores in the two overtime periods, a series of 5 penalty shots will define the winner. 5.4.3 Only players who are in the pool at the end of the overtime period may participate in the penalty shots (see Rule 9). 5.4.4 Players cannot take a second shot until all other members have had a shot. 6. The Game 6.1 Each period will be started with players lined up at their end of the pool facing the wall. When the official sounds their whistle and throws the ball in the center pf the pool, players may push off from the end of the pool and paddle to the ball to begin the period. 6.2 After a goal is score, the ball is put in play by the goalie of the opponents of the scoring team. 6.3 Goalies may not throw the ball past the midline marked by cones unless the goalie paddles out of the goalkeeper area. 6.4 No player except the goalie is permitted in the goalkeeper area. 6.5 One or both hands may be used to catch and throw the ball. 6.6 Free throws may be taken by anyone. 6.7 When a whistle is blown, players must maintain position. 6.8 Position in the innertube:
Updated 7/3/2017
INNERTUBE WATER POLO RULES INTRAMURAL SPORTS 6.8.1 Players must be seated horizontally in their tubes in order to touch the ball. They may not lay on their stomachs or place one leg through the opening and one on the outside of the tube. Exception: the goalie must fold their tube into a saddle position to straddle it but my not stand on the pool floor or jump off the floor at any time. 6.9 Possession of jump ball will be determine by a dropped ball procedure. 6.10 A ball that goes out of play is awarded to the opponent of the team that last touched the ball. 6.10.4 Possession is given at a spot on the sideline closest to where the ball went out of play, or at the 3rd line if the ball goes out over the end line. 6.11 An official may refrain from declaring a foul, if in his/her judgement such declaration would be an advantage to the offending team. 6.12 A defensive player may not grab another player’s inner tube and hold onto it, even if the player has the ball, but a player may push down on an inner tube with an open hand or hands from the top of the tube. No grabbing or pushing from underneath a player’s inner tube is allowed. 6.13 Players may not push an innertube away from another player that is out of their tube. 7. Infractions 7.1 All penalties result in a free throw from the spot of the infraction. All minor fouls result in indirect free throws. All major fouls result in direct free throws. The opponents must be 5 feet away from the thrower on all free throws. 7.2 Minor Fouls: indirect free throw give to opposing team and taken from side of playing area closest to infraction. 7.2.1 Touching the ball or another player when out of a tube 7.2.2 Not allowing an opponent 5 feet on a free throw. 7.2.3 Holding onto the pool wall while in possession of the ball 7.2.4 Goalies may not hold onto the wall once the ball crosses the 4th line. 7.2.5 Holding the ball under water. 7.2.6 Holding onto the pool wall when catching or passing the ball. 7.2.7 Deliberately hitting the ball with an open or closed hand. 7.2.8 Failing to clear the ball out of the goalie area within 10 seconds (goalie only). Goalie may not pass back and forth out of the goalkeeper area to consume time. Take the free throw at the 3rd line of the offending goalie. 7.2.9 Throwing the ball past the 4th line of the pool (goalie only). Take the free throw at the 3rd line of the offending goalie. 7.2.10 A player other than the goalie playing inside the goalie area. Only be enforced when the ball is in the same half of the court as the goalie area where the offense occurs. 7.2.11 Running on the pool deck to retrieve a ball. 7.3 Major Fouls: the offender is taken out of the game for 1 minute or until a goal is scored by the opposing team, whichever occurs first. A direct free throw is
Updated 7/3/2017
INNERTUBE WATER POLO RULES INTRAMURAL SPORTS awarded to the offended team from side of playing area closest to the foul. A removed player must re-enter the pool at his own goalkeeper area. 7.3.1 Making illegal body contact (e.g., holding, pushing, or using hands/feet to dunk an opponent not in possession of the ball). Note: the ball is considered to be in player possession if it is within arms-length of the player. 7.3.2 Grabbing/holding onto another player’s inner tube at any time, including pushing on a player’s inner tube from underneath. 7.3.3 Intentionally pushing an empty inner tube away from an opponent. 7.3.4 Dunking an opponent using anything but one or two hands from the top of the tube. 7.3.5 Hitting the ball out of an opponent’s hands. 7.3.6 Reaching over an opponent’s back to obtain the ball. 7.3.7 A goalkeeper blocking a shot while holding onto the wall or out of his/her tube (penalty shot). 7.3.8 A defensive player in the goalkeeper area that blocks a shot. 7.3.9 Interfering with a penalty shot. 7.3.10 Persistent repetition of a minor foul. 7.3.11 Unsportsmanlike conduct. 7.3.12 Deliberately splashing water in the face of an opponent. 7.3.13 Players are not allowed to re-enter the pool by jumping into their tubes in an uncontrolled or inappropriate manner. 7.4 5 major fouls committed by the same player will disqualify that player for the remainder of the game. 8. Unsportsmanlike Conduct 8.1 Unsportsmanlike Conduct: the same procedure as for Major Fouls is enforced; however 2 unsportsmanlike conducts results in an ejection. 8.1.1 Misconduct/verbal abuse. 8.1.2 Disrespecting the referee. 8.1.3 A player dunking an opponent while out of his/her tube 8.1.4 Any other unsporting act. 9. Penalty Shots 9.1 A penalty shot is given to an offensive player when a defensive player commits a major foul inside the penalty area, when a defender commits a foul in the penalty area that would have resulted in a goal, or when the goalie blocks a shot while holding onto the wall. 9.2 The offended player must take the penalty shot. 9.3 The shot will be taken from the 3rd black line. 9.4 All players, except the shooter and the goalie, must stay outside the 3rd black line until the shot is completed, and no player may be within 5 feet of the shooter.
Updated 7/3/2017
INNERTUBE WATER POLO RULES INTRAMURAL SPORTS 9.5 The official will give the ball to the shooter and blow the whistle when the shooter and the goalie are ready. The shooter must immediately and directly take the shot. 9.6 If the ball rebounds from the goal posts, crossbar, or goalie, it remains in play unless the period has ended. 10. Tournament Play 10.1 Specifics about the format of the innertube water polo special event tournament bracket and game format will be based off of participant interest and determined after registration closes.
Updated 7/3/2017
