Water Polo

Overview

Seven players a side in a deep pool, passing and shooting a ball into the opposition goal. Players can't touch the bottom, which is why the sport is so punishing.

Checked against Part Six, Water Polo Rules, of the World Aquatics Competition Regulations, in force from February 2026. Article numbers below refer to Part Six. Pool dimensions are set in a different part of the regulations and aren't covered here.

1. Teams

Each team starts with seven players, one a goalkeeper (2.3.1), and may list up to 14: at most 12 field players and one or two goalkeepers (2.2.2).

2. Time

Four periods of eight minutes of actual play: the clock stops whenever play stops (4.1–4.2). There are two minutes between periods, and five at half time (4.3). A match must produce a winner (4.4).

Shot clock: a team may keep the ball for 28 seconds without shooting (9.1). If it regains the ball after its own shot, it gets 18 seconds (9.8.2.2).

3. Handling the ball

It's an ordinary foul (8.2), giving the other team a free throw, to:

• touch the ball with both hands at once, unless you're the goalkeeper in your own 6-metre area;
• strike the ball with a clenched fist, except the goalkeeper in the 6-metre area;
• take or hold the whole ball under water when tackled;
• touch the floor of the pool, walking on it or jumping off it;
• push or push off from an opponent who isn't holding the ball.

An attacking player can't score with a clenched fist, but any other part of the body is fine (7.3.4).

4. Exclusions and penalties

Exclusion fouls (10) include interfering with the other team's free throw, violent action and misconduct. The excluded player swims to the re-entry area behind their own goal line and may come back after 18 seconds of actual play, or sooner in some situations (10.5).

A penalty throw is taken from the 5-metre line (16.3.4). It's awarded for fouls such as preventing a likely goal, including taking the ball under water to stop one (11.1).

Three personal fouls and a player is out for the rest of the match (17).

Commonly argued

• Only the goalkeeper can use two hands, and only in their 6-metre area.
• You can't take the ball under water when tackled.
• You can't touch the bottom, let alone push off it.
• The shot clock is 28 seconds.
• An exclusion lasts 18 seconds of play, not the rest of the match, unless it's your third personal foul.
• No scoring with a clenched fist.