1. TRIGLAV JADRANSKA VATERPOLSKA LIGA
PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS OF WATER POLO RULES
Barcelona 2013
Boris Margeta
Dejan Perisic

2. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
TRIGLAV JADRANSKA VATERPOLSKA LIGA
WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
CENTRE FORWARD vs. DEFENDER

3. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
TRIGLAV JADRANSKA VATERPOLSKA LIGA
WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
ORDINARY FOUL
When a defender attempts to take the ball from the centre-forward and is obstructing his movement with his body, but is not holding, pulling or sinking, then the defender is penalized with an ordinary foul.
Try to avoid awarding exclusion fouls automatically when the ball lands into the centre position.

4. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
ADVANTAGE
When the defender is positioned on the opposite side of the centre forward’s playing hand, he is in a very good position to take the ball from the centre without a foul.
If the defender is in a horizontal position, the chances of taking the ball without a foul are increased.

5. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
EXCLUSION FOUL
Any attempt by the defender on the body of the centre forward, without a clear intention to get the ball, will be penalized with an exclusion foul.
This occurs when the defender is in a vertical position and the ball is passed to the centre-forward.

6. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
EXCLUSION FOUL
In cases where the defender is lying with his body on the center -forward or is jumping over the center- forward’s head is obstructing the center- forward’s movement. The defender must be excluded, even if both hands are raised.

7. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
OFFENSIVE FOUL
The centre forward cannot play under water. An offensive foul must be given if the centre forward gains advantage when receiving the ball by going under water.
Any backward movement by the centre forward in using hands or head to push the defender away, when the ball is passed to him, must be penalized with an offensive foul.

8. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
If centre forward and defender are both holding each other under water, without clear intention to control the ball, and usually they don‘t even know where the ball is, a double exclusion must be given.
If they continue to play in this manner after the exclusion, then they must be excluded with substitution for the remainder of the game to prevent violent play.

9. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
FIELD PLAY
Pressing
Tactical foul
Attacker swims under water
Simulating
Fouls at the 5 meter line

10. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
PRESSING
2 Types of pressing:
Un-allowed pressing (holding the attacker, preventing movement)
Allowed pressing (controlling the attacker’s movement, touching the attacker)
Un-allowed pressing is a tactic for killing speed and the action, which prevents intelligent players to play and increase violent play.

11. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
Holding or blocking attacking player, who is swimming (driving in) or attempt to swimm, with one or both hands, must be penalized with an exclusion.
Agressive play by a defender using both hands, with the intention of making a foul, must be penalized with an exclusion. Tactical fouls must be penalized with an exclusion.

12. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
Defender, when positioned horizontally, is allowed to control the movement of the attacker by touching and swimming next to him.
When a defender goes for the ball from a horizontal position and the attacker shows no intention in playing for the ball, advantage must be given to the defender for active play.
If the attacker swimms over the body of a defender in a horizontal position, an offensive foul must be given.

13. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
TACTICAL FOUL
Tactical fouls such as:
Raising both hands,
To interfere with a free throw
Pushing the ball after a free throw
Fouls with two hands
Agressive fouls to prevent advantage
Must be penalized with an exclusion foul.

14. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
SWIMMING UNDER PLAYER
Swimming (diving) under a defender, by which an advantage is gained (commonly occurs at the start of swimming action or in the centre position), must be penalized with an offensive foul.
Water polo should be played above the water not under.

15. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
SIMULATION IS A FOUL
An attacker attempts to simulate a foul by dipping his head under water.
The centre simulates that they are being pulled back in order to get an exclusion foul.

16. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
SIMULATION IS A FOUL - continued
It is important that the referee does not fall for the simulation but gives an offensive foul.
The referee may allow the game to continue until the attacker loses the ball, but with clear signalisation to the player, that simulation is not accepted.

17. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
SIMULATION IS A FOUL - continued
If the player continues to simulate, a yellow card must be shown as a warning for him and his team.
If anybody from his team continues with simulation after the yellow card is awarded, they will be excluded with substitution (red card).

18. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
ORDINARY FOULS AT THE 5 METER LINE
The referee must be sure that there is a foul and not simulation by the attacker.
REFEREE MUST WHISTLE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPEN, NOT WHAT THE PLAYER OR COACH DEMAND FROM HIM!!!
Foul, ball, and the player MUST be outside 5 meter line. The attacker must shoot in a single motion, without delay and without forward movement of his body.

19. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
ORDINARY FOULS AT THE 5 METER LINE - continued
After the foul, the defender is not allowed to move towards to attacker and to obstruct his movement (This is an exclusion foul).
After the foul, attacker is not allowed to move forward towards the defender (This is an offensive foul).

20. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
PENALTY FOULS

21. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
The foul must be commited inside the 5 meter line
The attacker must be facing the goals completely
The attacker is not holding the ball
The attacker’s intention is to score a goal
The pass to the attacker must be correct

22. WORLD WATER POLO REFEREES ASSOCIATION
NOTE!
There are no defenders between the attacker and the goalkeeper at the moment when a penalty is awarded.
During taking a penalty shot, attacker may not move towards the goal with his body.