The NCAA News - News and FeaturesMarch 24, 1997
Water polo adopts rules to better mirror international game
Seeing a need for a more consistent set of playing rules in the sport, the NCAA Men's Water Polo Committee adopted numerous rules changes that bring the collegiate sport closer to the international game.
At its March 10-13 meeting in Newport Beach, California, the NCAA Men's Water Polo Committee implemented numerous rules changes currently being enforced by the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA).
It was the sense of the committee that collegiate rules that were more in line with national and international rules would benefit both players and referees who currently must adapt to different rules based upon collegiate or international (U.S. Water Polo, Inc.) contests.
The most significant change adopted by the committee may be the revision of the stalling rule. The committee revised the rule to state that the offensive team, after having received an outlet pass from the goalkeeper, cannot throw the ball back to the goalkeeper or stalling will be called. An outlet pass is a pass by the goalkeeper when he is not under pressure. If a goalkeeper takes the ball at half court without being pressured and swims it back toward his goal, it is considered stalling. It is the responsibility of the defense to force the play.
Currently, stalling is defined as the failure of a team to advance the ball and to aid in the normal progress of the game. Also, currently stalling may be called in the offensive end of the pool only when defensive pressure is applied to the ball.
In other actions, the committee:
Recommended to the NCAA Executive Committee that Fort Lauderdale, Florida, be the site of the 1997 National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship December 5 and 7. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and U.S. Water Polo, Inc., would serve as cohosts.
Recommended that the Executive Committee grant automatic qualification privileges for the 1997 championship to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Collegiate Water Polo Association and Western Water Polo Association.
Requested permission from the Executive Committee to survey the membership regarding possible implementation of regional tournaments as a means to advance to the national championship. Institutions would be responsible for paying their own costs to participate in the regional tournaments. The championship would remain a four-team bracket.
Revised the championships selection criteria to include a team's regular-season finish over the last 10 games and conference tournament place-finish. This is in addition to the criteria that is already established.
Met with Dan Sharadin, Hank Villekamp and Barbara Kalbus, representatives of U.S. Water Polo, Inc.
Regarding rules, the committee:
Determined that teams should be located on the side of the pool opposite the scoring table, unless facility restrictions prevent such location. The ejection areas are always on the side opposite the scoring table. (Rules 1-4 and 1-5)
Voted that coaches can leave the bench only between periods and during timeouts. (Rule 1-5)
Voted that teams shall change ends at half time and after the first overtime period, and that referees shall change sides of the pool before the start of any period when the teams do not change ends. However, teams must change ends and benches after each quarter if requested by one coach. In that instance, the referees shall not change sides during the game. (Rules 2-5 and 5-7)
Revised the penalty for bench interference so that a player who has already been warned by the referee shall be ejected for the remainder of the game. The player closest to the team's ejection area is no longer removed for 20 seconds. (Rule 2-9)
Eliminated use of the yellow card as a means of warning to coaches and players whose conduct interferes with the control or progress of the game and for taunting. (Rules 2-9 and 7-5-g)
Eliminated the requirement that the game timekeeper notify the referee when 30 seconds remain in a timeout or the interval between periods. (Rule 2-13-f)
Voted that if sharp fingernails or a foreign substance are detected on a player during a game, the player shall be ejected for 20 seconds and assessed a personal fault. If the referee instructs a player to trim his nails or remove the foreign substance before the game, the referee must check the player before starting play. (Rule 4-2)
Voted that if the coach of a team in possession of the ball requests a timeout beyond the number permitted by the rules, play restarts immediately by the opposing team putting the ball in play from the half-distance line on the whistle of the referee. All players may take any position in the field of play that they deem advantageous. The number of timeouts remaining for each team shall be visible to the teams. (Rule 5-3)
Determined that if the ball is moved closer to the defending team's goal by result of a live-time foul outside the seven-meter line, the attacking team must return the ball to the point of the foul without delay, whereupon a player at that location may immediately shoot the free throw directly at the goal. (Rule 5-9-b)
Voted that a goal may be scored by a player immediately shooting from outside seven meters after his team has been awarded a free throw outside seven meters (the player fouled no longer has to shoot the ball). (Rule 5-9-b)
A player may not shoot the free throw outside 7 meters directly at the goal following the restart after: a) calling of timeout; b) a goal; c) stoppage for an injury; d) the ball comes from out of bounds; and e) replacement of a cap. (Rule 5-9-b)
Voted that after a timeout following a goal, play restarts from the half-distance line on the whistle of the referee. Players may take any position that they deem advantageous. (Rule 6-4)
Voted that if the coach of the team in possession of the ball requests a timeout, play restarts after a timeout by that team putting the ball in play from the half-distance line on the
whistle of the referee. Players may take any position that they deem advantageous. (Rule 6-4)
Voted that if the coach of the team in possession of the ball requests a timeout immediately after the awarding of a penalty or corner throw, play restarts by that team taking the penalty throw or corner throw. All players may take any position that they deem advantageous, subject to the rules pertaining to the taking of a corner or penalty throw. (Rule 6-4)
Eliminated the distinction between technical and ordinary fouls. (Rules 7-1 and 7-3)
Revised the definition of stalling to state that once the goalkeeper makes an outlet pass, the offensive team cannot throw the ball back to the goalkeeper. An outlet pass is a pass by the goalkeeper when he is not under pressure. If a goalkeeper takes the ball at half court without being pressured and swims back toward his goal, it is considered stalling. (Rule 7-1-h)
Determined that a player who holds, sinks or pulls back an opponent who is not holding the ball shall be ejected for 20 seconds and assessed a personal fault, regardless of the location of the foul or if there is an offensive advantage. (Rule 7-5-a and 7-5-b)
Determined that if both an ejected player and his substitute enter the game at the end of the ejection period and the player who enters illegally interferes with play, the player who entered illegally shall be ejected for the remainder of the game, the opposing team awarded a penalty shot and the substitute ejected for 20 seconds. If the player who entered illegally does not interfere with the game, the player is ejected for 20 seconds and receives a personal fault. In addition, the player closest to the ejection area is removed from the water for 20 seconds. (Rule 7-5-l)
Voted that if an extra player enters the game while play is in progress and interferes with play, the player is ejected for the remainder of the game and a penalty shot awarded. If the player does not interfere with the game, the player is ejected for 20 seconds and receives a personal fault. In addition, the player closest to the ejection area is removed from the water for 20 seconds. (Rule 7-5-l)
Determined that a player who interferes with a referee during the conduct of the game shall be removed for the remainder of the game. A substitute shall be permitted to enter the game after serving a 20-second ejection period. (Rule 7-5-m)
Voted that if the defending goalkeeper fails to take his correct position on the goal line for a penalty throw after having been ordered once to do so by the referee, and the goal is not scored, the goalkeeper shall be charged with a personal fault and ejected for 20 seconds. Another defensive player may assume the position of the goalkeeper; however, the player will not have goalkeeper privileges or limitations. (Rule 7-5-u)
Determined that an ejected player must be waved in upon a change in possession (removed reference that the referee must give the signal immediately). (Rule 7-6-b-3)
Determined that if an ejected player enters the field of play early or improperly to prevent a goal, the player must return to the ejection area to complete any time of the original exclusion, is charged with an additional personal fault, and a penalty throw shall be awarded to the opposing team. (Rule 7-6-c)
Voted that when an ejected player enters the field of play improperly and interferes with the game in the last minute of the game or the last minute of the second overtime period or any time in sudden-death overtime period, the player is ejected for the remainder of the game, and the opposing team awarded a penalty throw. If the player does not interfere with the game, the player is ejected for 20 seconds and no penalty throw is awarded. (Rule 7-6-d)
Voted that if a player commits an act of disrespect before the restart of play between periods or after the opposing team has scored a goal, the player shall be ejected for the remainder of the game; however, the teams start even up at the restart after the goal or at the beginning of the next period (Rule 7-6-e)
Determined that if a simultaneous ejection foul and penalty foul are called on players from opposing teams during actual play, both players shall be excluded and a neutral throw awarded. (Rule 7-6-g)
Determined that a player who interferes with a free throw, regardless of the distance from the player taking the free throw, shall be assessed a personal fault. (Rule 8-3-d)
Stated that perimeter fouls (ordinary and ejection) must be called consistently throughout the game, including the last minute when the team with the lead has the ball. (Points of Emphasis)
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