Official's Guide to NFHS High School (Grades 9-12) Water Polo 2026-27

Two 2026-28 changes make direct scoring easier.

Ball outside 6 meters (Rule 4-22-1)

• If the ball is outside 6 meters, the player may shoot directly and score no matter where the foul happened, including a foul inside 6 meters away from the ball (for example, on the player defending at the one position).
• Before, both the ball and the foul had to be outside 6 meters.
• On an exclusion, only the first whistle is needed before the player outside 6 meters may shoot; additional whistles don't have to be completed first.

Free throw inside 6 meters (Rule 4-22-2)

• A player awarded a free throw inside 6 meters may put the ball into play, move outside 6 meters, and then score from anywhere in the field. Both the ball and player must get outside 6 meters.
• Before, the ball had to be passed before a goal could be scored.
• Referees may raise an arm vertically to show the player has left the 6-meter area, but it isn't required.

Corner throws (4-22-1 NOTE)

• A goal may be scored directly after a correctable clock error, and after the referee has removed the ball before a corner throw for any administrative reason.

Yes. Under Rules 4-7-1 and 4-13 (changed for 2026-28), either the offense or the defense may call a 30-second time-out after a goal is scored.

Previously, the team on defense could only call a full time-out after a goal, not a 30-second one. The defense can now call either.

New language for 2026-28 clarifies both:

• End line (Rule 5-1): the ball is out of bounds when a player in possession reaches the ball entirely across the goal line and outside the goal posts.
• Sideline (Rule 6-14-1): the ball is out of bounds when a player in possession reaches the ball entirely across the sideline.

Player location (Rule 6-1, 2026-28)

• A player's location is judged by the center of the head relative to the 2-meter line, 6-meter line, half-distance line and goal line.
• The goal area is now listed among the field-of-play boundaries.

The goal area (Rule 1-6-1e, added 2024-26)

• A continuous red marking on the goal line extends 2 meters from the outside of each goal post.
• Imaginary lines run from the ends of those red markings out to the 2-meter line. The area they enclose is the goal area.

Playing in and around it (introduced 2024-26; these rules received editorial changes only for 2026-28)

• 6-11-1, 6-11-2: an attacker outside the goal area may enter the 2-meter area without penalty.
• 6-11-3: an attacker in the goal area may never be in front of the line of the ball.
• 5-10-1: a foul inside the 2-meter area but outside the goal area is a free throw where the ball is; the attacker only needs to be out of the goal area to take it.

Yes. Under Rules 6-10-1 and 6-10-2 (new language for 2026-28), a center facing or locked up with a defender may let go and attempt to play the ball while it is in the air, provided there is no push-off and no sinking of the defender.

This aligns the rules book with how the game is already officiated.

Under Rule 7-8 (clarified for 2026-28):

• Using two hands to hold an opponent who is not holding the ball is an exclusion foul.
• If the opponent is holding the ball, the defender may hold with two hands, as long as the action is not overly aggressive or violent.

Related: Rule 7-3-1c now has notes defining "control of the ball", the concept behind judgments on fouls, advantage, exclusions and goalkeeper privileges.

Two 2026-28 rules cover this:

Voluntarily leaving the field of play (Rule 4-27)

• A player who voluntarily leaves the field of play may re-enter immediately once they reach the re-entry area nearest their own goal line.

Climbing out of the pool (Rule 7-2-4)

• If a player climbs out at the side of the pool instead of swimming to the re-entry area, the player is excluded for the remainder of the game, with substitution after the earliest re-entry occurrence.
• This applies to any player, including one leaving voluntarily: no player may leave the water to walk to the re-entry area.

Under Rule 7-12-1 (new for 2026-28), a player who receives a second minor act of misconduct (MAM) in a game is excluded for the remainder of the game for misconduct.

• Signal it with the double-handed rolling signal for misconduct.
• Record every MAM and misconduct in the game book.
• Whether the misconduct must be reported, and any suspension that follows, is set by your state association's procedures, not the NFHS rules book.

Two changes for 2026-28:

Defenders' position (Rule 9-2)

• Opposing players must now be on the 6-meter line and 3 meters away from the player taking the penalty throw. They may swim toward the cage once the whistle is blown.

Goalkeeper on the line (Rule 7-17)

If the defending goalkeeper fails to take the correct position on the goal line, or moves off the line before your whistle:

Previously there was no penalty for a goalkeeper jumping off the line; the throw was just retaken.

No. This is a 2026-28 NFHS point of emphasis.

• A goalkeeper who leaves the goal area and fouls is not an automatic penalty foul just for leaving the cage. Goalkeepers can commit ordinary and exclusion fouls like any field player.
• Award a penalty foul only when the foul denies a probable goal-scoring opportunity.
• It is not a probable goal if:
  • one or more defenders are between the attacker and the goal, or in the direct path to it
  • the attacker is at a poor shooting angle
  • the attacker is otherwise not in a clear scoring position

In those cases, award an ordinary or exclusion foul to match the nature of the foul.

New Rule 8-2 notes also set criteria for judging a probable goal when an offensive player has the ball inside 6 meters in situations not otherwise covered by Rule 8.

Both are 2026-28 NFHS points of emphasis.

Simulation

• Simulation (faking being fouled to influence the call) is a foul. Don't reward it by calling a foul that didn't happen.
• By an offensive player: offensive foul.
• By a defensive player: exclusion foul.
• Typical example: a perimeter attacker deliberately drops the ball, throws the head or body into a defender and slaps the water while the defender clearly has two hands up and makes no illegal contact.

Free throws (Rule 5-11)

• On a counterattack, a player with a position of advantage doesn't have to give it up to take the free throw; the next-closest teammate takes it (without undue delay).
• If there's no counterattacker and the closest player has no positional advantage, that player must take the free throw. Swimming away to let someone else take it is an offensive foul.

Game ball

• Every ball must display the NFHS Authenticating Mark (2026-28 point of emphasis). Officials should report non-compliant balls to the state association after the contest.
• Color (Rule 1-16): the ball no longer has to be yellow or gold. It must contrast with both teams' cap colors and be clearly and safely visible.

Devices and substances (new for 2026-28)

• 1-12-4: players may not wear audio or video devices during the game.
• 3-3: referees may use an intercom headset system to communicate.
• 2-9 and 3-22: participants, team personnel, coaches and officials may not use alcohol, tobacco, or controlled or illicit substances during a contest.

Bench and table (1-8)

• Team benches and the administrative (score) table are placed according to the facility layout and may be on either side of the pool. Benches should be close to the table, and can be moved where needed for safety, visibility and game administration.