NCAA Approves 2010-2012 Water Polo Rules Changes

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- John Vargas, head coach at Stanford University and the chairman of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Rules Subcommittee has announced the 2010-2012 water polo rules changes have been approved by the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Rules Subcommittee and by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel.  The rules changes will be incorporated into the rules book for the 2010-11 and 2011-2012 seasons.

The rules will impact all varsity and collegiate club competition in the nation as the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) implements all NCAA rules changes to the National Collegiate Club game.

The changes are posted below and are available in PDF format at this link:

NCAA WATER POLO RULES CHANGES FOR 20011-2012

(References are to rule numbers and pages in the 2008-10 Rule Book)

Rules Changes as of 3-15-10

The following list has been approved by the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Rules Subcommittee and by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel. The rule and page references are from the 2008-10 Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Rules book. The list includes the major and minor changes in order by rule reference and will be incorporated in the next rules book publication.

1. Rule 4-1 Caps (Page 29). Caps may have piping of any color not to exceed a width of 1 centimeter around the cap or on the seams on the cap. Rationale: This clarifies that piping may be included on seams as well as on the edges of a cap.

2. Rule 4-4 Numbers (Page 30). The numbers on dark caps must be white or yellow/gold. Rationale: This clarifies that either of these two similar colors is permissible.

3. Rule 5-2 Team Bench, Change of Ends (Page 33). A team may have co-head coaches. One must be designated as the head coach before each game. The designated head coach is the only coach who can stand, speak to the referees at designated times, and move up to 5-meter mark when on offense. The designation of head coach may vary from game to game. The referees must be informed prior to the start of the game who is the head coach for that game. Rationale: This change clarifies the issue of co-head coaches.

4. Rule 5-4 Apparel (Page 34). Players shall wear non-transparent, one-piece swim suits. The suit of the female field players must have a solid high back with broad straps. The suit of the female goalkeeper must be a one-piece competitive suit. This suit may either be of the same style as the field players or may have an open back with shoulder straps at least one inch in width. Rationale: The change is part of the effort to decrease the incidence of tearing of suits and zippers and to decrease exposure. A diagram of an appropriate suit will be included. Information about the suit of the goalkeeper is added from the casebook.

5. Rule 5-5 Substances on Body (Page 36). If sunscreen is used, it must be a product that is not oily or greasy in its final form. Rationale: Products have been developed that can be used in outdoor pools that comply with the rules against the use of oil or grease on the body.
6. Rule 5-5 Substances on Body (Page 36). A player shall not use a substance on the hand(s) to improve the grip on the ball. If such a substance is found, the referee shall order the player to remove the substance and shall inspect the player’s hands before the player returns to the game. The referee shall warn both teams that if another player is found with this substance on his/her hand(s), that player will be removed for the remainder of game. Rationale: A strong rule is needed to prevent the use of such a substance.

7. Rule 7-1 Eligibility of Referees to Officiate NCAA Games (New, Page 39). Referees must register with the NCAA and take and pass yearly the NCAA referee test in order to officiate NCAA games. Rationale: This change will help ensure that all referees know the latest rules, instructions to referees, points of emphasis, and interpretations.

8. Rule 7-7 Reporting Requirements (Page 45). Referees must report incidents of misconduct to the conference commissioner. Exclusion of a player for brutality or fighting and exclusion of coaches, staff or players for the receipt of a red card, which are currently required to be reported to the conference commissioner, shall also be reported to the NCAA coordinator of officials. Rationale: Although most conferences already require the reporting of misconduct to the conference commissioner, this change will ensure complete reporting and tracking of misconduct penalties. This requirement will differ from the reporting requirement for a red card, brutality or fighting (in the case of these fouls, the commissioner must notify the appropriate director of athletics of the offense).

9. Rule 7-7 Reporting Requirements (Page 45). The referee must verify after a game that all incidents of misconduct, brutality, fighting and red cards have been recorded on the scoresheet and that the appropriate coaches have been informed of the occurrence of these fouls. Rationale: This will ensure that reportable offenses are recorded on the scoresheet, which is the official record of the game. Since there are follow-up penalties for some offenses, it is also essential that the referee ascertain that the coach is aware of the occurrence of these reportable offenses.

10. Rule 11-5 Replay of a Game (New, Page 60). If a game (or portion of a game) must be replayed, the goals, fouls and timeouts that occurred during the time to be replayed are removed from (lined through on) the secretary’s scoresheet; however, brutality, misconduct, and any red cards or yellow cards must be retained on the secretary’s scoresheet. Rationale: This is in an interpretation in the current case book and needs to be added to the rules book.

11. Rule 12-1 Number of Regular Timeouts (Page 61). The number of timeouts, both regular and 30-second, remaining for each team shall be visible to the teams and maintained by the scoring table secretary. It is recommended that an exclusion board also be provided and maintained by the scoring table. Rationale: This removes the requirement that the secretary maintain the timeout record and leaves it up to the desk supervisor to assign the duty as convenient for the personnel. It also clarifies that an exclusion board is not mandatory, but is recommended.

12. Rule 12-7 30-Second Timeout (Page 64). A 30-second timeout may be shortened. Rationale: This clarifies that a 30-second timeout may be shortened by notification to the referee by the coach, just as with a regular timeout.

13. Rule 12-8 Television Timeouts (Page 64). A television timeout of no more than two minutes may be called once each period according to the rules after four minutes of playing time have elapsed. The timeout secretary will sound the air horn at the proper time after notification by the television production crew. The referee will then immediately blow the whistle and extend each arm straight out to the side to award the television timeout. Rationale: The use of the timeout secretary to notify the referee when to award the television timeout has been shown to reduce errors.

14. Rule 13-3 Position of Referees at the Start (Page 66). If a center sprint is used with a ball-release device at the start of a period, the referees will position themselves on their respective 5-meter lines. The starting signal shall be given by the referee on the same side as the scoring table. Both referees will then move towards the center as the ball-release person releases the ball on the half-distance line. Rationale: This change in the position of the referees if a center sprint is used enables them to watch the position of players at the start.

15. Rule 18-1 Neutral Throw – When Awarded (Page 77). A neutral throw shall be awarded:
b. When one or more players of opposing teams commit an ordinary foul at the same moment, which makes it impossible for the referees to distinguish which player offended first;
e. When neither team has possession of the ball and one or more players of opposing teams commit an exclusion foul at the same moment. The neutral throw shall be taken after the offending players have been excluded.
Rationale: Point b is a minor change in wording and point e is currently contained in a note to the rule. This language conforms to the FINA rule.

16. Rule 20-16 Sending Ball Out of Bounds Over Side Line (Page 86). It is an ordinary foul to send the ball out of the side of the field of play, including the ball rebounding from the side of the field of play above water level to last touch the ball that goes out of the side of the field of play (including the ball rebounding from the side of the field of play above water level) except in the case of a defensive field player blocking a shot over the side of the field of play, in which case a free throw is given to the defensive team. Rationale: This replaces the term “sending” the ball out of the field of play with “last touch.” This language conforms to the FINA rule.

17. Rule 20-18 Wasting Time (Page 87). Eliminate the ordinary foul of wasting time. However, if a team relinquishes possession of the ball by dumping the ball prior to the expiration of the shot clock, the referee shall blow the whistle, turn the ball over, and the shot clock is reset. Rationale: This change means that the team on offense is no longer required to advance the ball toward the offensive end of the pool and eliminates inconsistencies in how stalling is called, particularly in the last minute of the game.

18. Rule 21-6 Blocking a Shot with Two Hands (Page 94). It is an exclusion foul to attempt to play or block a pass or a shot with two hands outside the 5-meter area. Rationale: Currently it is not an exclusion foul to attempt to block a pass with two hands outside the 5-meter area. This change means it is an exclusion foul for a player to attempt to block either a pass or shot with two hands outside the 5-meter area.

19. Rule 21-10 Misconduct (Page 97). If a player commits an act of misconduct during the interval between periods, during a timeout, after a goal, or before a penalty throw is taken, the player shall be excluded for the remainder of the game and a substitute shall be eligible to reenter immediately prior to the restart of the game as all these times described are considered to be interval time. Play will restart in the normal manner. Rationale: The time before a penalty throw is added to the definition of interval time to bring the rule into alignment with the latest FINA interpretation.

20. Rule 21-10 Misconduct – Minor acts of Misconduct (Page 98). Broaden the definition of a minor act of misconduct (which currently consists primarily of minor acts of disrespect towards the referee) to also include minor acts of misconduct toward another player, such as minor shoving, minor taunting or gestures or other similar acts that do not warrant exclusion from the remainder of the game. Rationale: This broadens the definition to include more examples of minor acts of misconduct.

21. Rule 21-10 Misconduct - Minor Acts of Misconduct (Page 98). The penalty of a 20-second exclusion for a minor act of misconduct (MAM) can only be awarded if the minor act of misconduct occur during play. If the minor act of misconduct occurs during interval time, the referee will exclude the player for 20 seconds for the first occurrence of this foul. The referee shall then immediately warn both teams through the head coaches that the next minor act of misconduct committed by any player during interval time will result in a game exclusion for misconduct. Rationale: This change distinguishes between the penalty for a minor act of misconduct committed during play as compared with one committed during interval time, increasing the penalty if the foul is committed during interval time after a warning.

22. Rule 21-11 Flagrant Misconduct, Including Fighting (Page 100). The name of the foul of brutality is changed from brutality to flagrant misconduct. Rationale: The change in the name of this foul was made to help improve the image of the sport and is similar to the name used for this type of behavior in other sports.

23. Rule 21-11 Flagrant Misconduct, Including Fighting (Page 100). The foul of “to play in a violent manner” is moved from misconduct (Rule 21-10) to flagrant misconduct (Rule 21-11). Violent play is defined as hitting, kicking or striking with malicious intent and is more likely to cause injury than overaggressive fouling. Rationale: Defines, reclassifies and increases the penalty for violent play.

24. Rule 21-11 Flagrant Misconduct, Including Fighting (Page 100). Retain the game exclusion and automatic one-game suspension for the first incident of flagrant misconduct, increase the penalty to an automatic two-game suspension for a second incident, and suspension for the remainder of the season for a third incident, with conference review. Rationale: This change incrementally increases the penalty for this type of behavior.

25. Rule 21-11 Flagrant Misconduct, Including Fighting (Page 100). Increase the suspension for participation in a fight from exclusion for the remainder of the game and an automatic one-game suspension to an automatic two-game suspension for the first offense, a three-game suspension for a second offense with conference review and suspension for the remainder of the season for a third offense with conference review. The definition of fighting is also clarified to involve a minimum of two players. Rationale: This change incrementally increases the penalty for this type of behavior.

26. Rule 21-12 Dead-Time Foul (Page 104). Eliminate this rule, which will result in the elimination of the concept of a special penalty for fouls committed during "dead time" (the time between the awarding of a foul and the taking of the free throw). The terms "dead time" and "live time" will be replaced with "during play”. This change will also include the elimination of Rules 20-11 (Offensive Dead-Time Foul) and 21-14 (Offensive Exclusion Fouls). Rationale: This change will eliminate the difference in penalty for a foul committed before the ball is put into play as compared with after the ball is put into play. The term “dead time” will no longer be used.

27. Rule 21-13 Double Dead-Time Foul (Page 104). If simultaneous exclusion fouls are committed by players from opposing teams during play, the team that had possession of the ball shall put the ball into play at the point of the foul or behind. Rationale: The ball will now be put into play in the same way if the double exclusion fouls occurred before the ball is put into play or if committed after the ball is put into play. The ball will be put into play by the team that had possession of the ball when the simultaneous fouls occurred, at the point of the foul or behind. The title of the rule will also be changed to Simultaneous Personal Fouls and will also include simultaneous penalty fouls.

28. Rule 21-18-c Simultaneous Award of an Exclusion Foul and a Penalty Foul (Page 108). When a player of each team commits a personal foul simultaneously during actual play or during dead time: (c) When one referee awards an exclusion foul and at the same time the other referee awards a penalty foul but for opposing teams during actual play or dead time. Rationale: An exclusion foul on one team and a penalty foul on the other team never occur simultaneously. This deletion aligns with the recent FINA changes. The remainder of the current rule is moved to Rule 21-13.

29. Rule 22-2 Penalty Fouls Within 5-Meter Area to Prevent Goal (Page 110). Eliminate b (block a shot) and c (block a pass) and replace with: It is a penalty foul for a defending player to attempt to block a shot or pass with two hands inside the 5-meter line. Rationale: This eliminates the ambiguous wording of “to intentionally play or attempt to play.”

30. Rule 25-3 Accident, Injury, Extenuating Circumstances (page 119) Add Note: If a player leaves the game for being rendered unconscious or for displaying concussion-like symptoms, the player must be cleared by medical personnel before returning to play the same day. (See Appendix G for additional information.) Rationale: This language was suggested by the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.

31. Appendix A, Instructions for the Use of Two Referees, No. 2 Note (Page 121). Instructions for use of two referees: if the two sides of the pool are parallel and do not have significant obstructions, each referee shall referee to the right. If this is not possible because of an obstruction, each referee shall referee to the left. Rationale: This change provides instruction to referees on how to referee in an atypical pool.

32. Appendix A, Instructions for the Use of Two Referees, No. 11 (Page 123). When simultaneous calls are made by both referees against players either on the same team or on opposing teams and one is for an ordinary foul and the other is for an exclusion foul or penalty foul, the exclusion foul or penalty foul awarded shall be applied. Rationale: This clarifies that the two fouls can be on the same team or on different teams.

33. (New) Appendix F, Water Polo Release and Indemnification Form. The current form will be included as an appendix. Rationale: The inclusion of this form provides information about the use of the release and the information required for approval, making the form readily available in the online publication of the rules book.

34. (New) Appendix G. The language for this appendix will be provided by NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. Rationale: This appendix will provide helpful information regarding student-athlete health and safety.

A complete listing of all rules changes during the past two cycles is available on the CWPA website at http://www.collegiatewaterpolo.org/officiating/education/changes