Dulwich Aquatic Games

June 8th, 2024

Water Polo
General rules
• Participating teams must have a minimum of 6 “field” players and 1 goalie to start the game.
A team may consist of up to 15 players.
• Only the 15 players and 1 coach may be poolside. Others must stay in the audience area.
• Any combination of male and female athletes is welcome.
• Teams will be divided into 2 age-group categories:
o 12 & Unders
o 13 & Overs
• Swimmers of any ages are welcome to participate as long as they are active students in the
invited schools.
• Swimmers will not stand on the bottom of the pool for the duration of the active match, nor may
they hang on to the wall.
• Games consist of 4 quarters of 5-7 minutes, with 2-minute breaks between each quarter. The
total game last for a total of 30 minutes. Teams will switch sides after the first two quarters.
• The clock stops after a major foul (exclusion) or a goal and only starts again when the ball is back
in play.
• There is no real offside rule, except within 2m of the opponent’s goal line.
• Visiting teams may bring their own caps but are not required to.
• Goggles and/or jewelry may not be worn by any swimmers.

Game Rules
• Field players must pass, catch, and shoot with only 1 hand. Goalies may use 2 hands within a 5-
meter area of the goal. If the keeper swims forward to join the attack, they too must only use
one hand at a time.
• Taking the ball under water when guarded is a turnover.
• There are three types of fouls in water polo: 'ordinary fouls', which account for the vast majority
of whistle stops during a game; 'major fouls'; and 'penalty fouls'.
o Ordinary fouls include:
▪ Touching the ball with two hands (with the exception of the goalkeeper).
▪ Taking the ball under water when tackled.
▪ Impeding an opponent who is not holding the ball.
▪ Pushing off an opponent.
o Major fouls (also called exclusion fouls or personal fouls) include:
▪ Kicking or striking.
▪ Deliberate splashing in the face.
▪ Interfering with a free throw.
▪ Misconduct or disrespect to the referee.
▪ Holding, sinking, or pulling back an opponent who is not holding the ball.
• Minor fouls occur frequently and result in a free pass. There is no limit to minor fouls.
• After 3 major fouls (ejections), a player may not return to the game.
• The game starts with a swim-off, where the two teams swim to get the ball and start the attack.
The team that gets the ball first is on offense first.
• Wrestle for the ball, but not the player, to win possession without fouling. You can go for the
ball, knocking it out of a player's hands to regain possession. If you hit the ball out or the
player uses two hands to protect it, the ball is yours.