New water polo rules 'a significant development for the sport'
Posted by Zois Koklas on 29 October 2019
New water polo rules approved by FINA are a ‘significant development for the sport'.
Rule changes approved by the FINA Extraordinary Congress were:
- The possession time to be reset to 20 seconds after a) a corner throw awarded; b) a rebound after a shot which does not cause change of possession and c) after an exclusion.
- Inside the 6m area, when a player is swimming with and/or holding the ball and is impeded (attacked) from behind during an attempt to shoot, a penalty foul must be awarded (unless only the ball is touched by the defender).
- Free throw shall be taken from the location of the ball (except if the foul is committed inside the 2m line).
- A goal may be scored from a free throw awarded outside 6 metres from a direct shot or after fake or dribble or putting the ball on the water. (Referees shall use signals if the foul happened outside the 6m line.)
- A player taking a corner throw may shoot directly or swim and shoot without passing or pass to another player.
- An additional substitution re-entry area will be at any place between the goal line and the centre field line for flying substitutions.
- Each team may request 2 time-outs during the game at any time while possessing the ball – and a time-out calling device (button) should be used to call a time-out.
- The goalkeeper is allowed to move beyond and touch the ball past the half distance line.
- There shall be a 3-minute interval between the second and third period.
- The use of audio equipment by the game referees.
- The use of game video monitoring system to identify and sanction incidents of brutality or extreme violence that occurred but were not appropriately punished or identified during a game.
- The use of video monitoring system to determine goal or no goal (where available).
