TOURNAMENT RULES & REGULATIONS

Equipment:

• Innertubes will be supplied by the Intramural Program.
• It is recommended that competitors wear a T-shirt to prevent bruises and rashes caused by tubes.
• The 2 yard line (goal area) and 4 yard line (penalty area) will be clearly marked, measured from the front of the goal (not from the wall).
• All players must sit in tube with both legs hanging over the tube.

The game:

• There will be two-15 minute halves of running time.
• Half-time will be 5 minutes. Teams will switch ends each half.
• If the game ends with a tie, a three minute sudden victory overtime period will follow. If no team scores during the sudden death period, the game will be recorded as a tie game. (In the playoffs, three minute periods will be played until a team scores). Intermissions will be one minute long.
• Each team is allowed one time-out per game. Only an offensive player may call a time-out.
• A team consists of seven players, one of which is a goalkeeper.
• Four players are required to start and finish the game.
• Substitutions can occur on any whistle.
• The referee at his/her discretion may stop the clock for any substitution or other delay that takes longer than normal, or is done to intentionally delay the game.

Start of play:

• At the start of each half, each team lines up at the opposite ends of the pool, with hands and feet touching the wall. Three players must be on each side of the goal, and the goalkeeper must be in the goal. If a team violates this rule, the referee will throw the ball to the opposite team.
• When the whistle is blown, the clock starts and the players may push off the wall. NOTE: This is the only time players may push off the wall.
• The referee will drop the ball in the middle of the pool.

Scoring:

• To score a goal, the following conditions must be met:
  • The ball must completely enter the goal before a goal is scored. A ball part way in the goal is NOT a goal.
  • If a player scoring a goal falls out of the tube due to the motion of the shot, the goal will be disallowed. However, if a defensive player tips the offensive shooter out of their tube, the goal will count. No Personal Foul will be called in this situation.
  • Goals will count as one (1) point.
  • All shots must come from outside of the two yard line.
• After a goal, the ball is put in play by the goalie just scored upon after a whistle by the official.
• Mercy Rule: If in the last two minutes of the second half, a team is winning by eight or more goals, the game shall end. In Co-Rec B, the point differential must be 12 points.

Method of play:

• No player may leave his/her innertube and touch or maneuver the ball. The only thing you can do when you are not in your tube is get back in it.
• No offensive player is allowed within the goal area. (Two yards from the end of the pool)
• NO BODY CONTACT IS ALLOWED.
• No tipping of another playing is allowed
• The goalkeeper, while within the penalty area may not throw the ball more than half the distance of the pool.
• The referee has the discretion to not stop play for a foul, if to do so would be to the advantage of the fouling team.

Restarts:

• After any stoppage in play, the ball will put back in play by one of the following:
  • Indirect free throw (IDFT) - Player has 3 seconds to put the ball in play. Opponents must give the person taking the throw one yard of space and may not guard or interfere with the player until the ball is in play. An offensive player must touch the ball before a goal is scored.
  • Direct free throw (DFT) – same as above but no other offensive player must touch the ball before a goal is scored.
  • Corner throw (CT) - Awarded when the defensive team puts the ball over end line. A corner throw is taken from the two yard line and sideline corner by the offensive team. This is a direct restart.
  • Goalie throw (GT) - Ball is awarded to goalkeeper. The goalkeeper has five seconds to put the ball in play.
  • Face off (FO) - A face off will occur when double fouls occur or if play is stopped and neither team was in possession of the ball. Two players must face each other two yards apart. No other player may be within two yards. The ball must hit the water before the players may touch it. The referee will award a free throw to the non-offending player, should a player touch the ball before it hits the water.

Fouls and infractions:

• PERSONAL FOULS will be restarted by a DFT.
  • Holding, pushing, hitting, jumping or tackling, or dumping an opponent without possession of the ball.
  • To push off from or impede the movement of an opponent.
  • Tipping another player.
  • Striking the ball with a closed fist.
  • To deliberately splash water in the face of an opponent.
  • Goalie grabbing the pool wall or goal standard while attempting to block a goal attempt.
  • Faceguarding an opponent (faceguarding is guarding an opponent within one foot of his/her face.)
  • Player persistently repeating an infraction, after the official has given warning.
  • Interfering with a person taking an IDFT. Innertube Water Polo Rules 5 Version W08
    NOTE: DFT's may be taken from the most advantageous spot: either the spot of the foul or the location of the ball at the time of the foul.
    NOTE: When a team receives six Personal Fouls, a penalty shot is awarded. The person taking the shot must be in the pool at the time of the sixth foul.
• MAJOR FOULS -- Player will be disqualified from game, Penalty throw
  • A flagrant foul is committed. This is a foul which endangers an opponent. Disobedience or dissension to the official. Unsportsmanlike conduct

Penalty shots:

• A Penalty shot will be taken four yards from the front of the goal. Any player at the time of the penalty may shoot. All other players must be behind, and three yards away from the shooter. If the shot is blocked, the ball is dead and becomes a GT.
• Penalty shot will be awarded when:
  • A major foul is committed.
  • A defensive player other than the goalkeeper blocks a shot within the two yard line.
  • A team commits a set of six personal fouls.
  • There is a foul committed in the penalty area which in the opinion of the referee prohibits a clear-cut chance of scoring. (i.e. breakaway)
• The referee will say “ball up”, the shooter must pick up the ball. Afterwards, the referee will blow his whistle. The players must immediately shoot in a continuos motion, no hesitation or faking is permitted.

Goalkeeping restrictions:

• The goalie must pass the ball after 8 seconds.
• A goalkeeper may be in a tube or not in a tube. They may touch the ground. In the deep end, the goaltender may stand on the ledge.
  NOTE: If the goalkeeper blocks a shot, and falls out of the tube after the block, no goal is scored.
• The goaltender may not leave the crease area at any time.
  NOTE: If the ball floats or is floating across the center line, no violation is considered to have occurred.

Co-ed modifications:

• At least two men and women must play to avoid a forfeit.
• Either gender may have a majority by no more than one.
• Penalty shots that are the result of a major foul must be taken by a person of the same gender as the person fouled. This person must be in the pool at the time of the foul.
• Penalty shots that are the result of six personal fouls may be taken by either gender. This person must be in the pool at the time of the sixth foul.
• All goals count as one point.