How do timeouts work?
Rule- South Africa
- Swimming South Africa
- Water polo
- U16
- World Aquatics rules
- 2025/26
- Players
Under World Aquatics rules (Part Six, Article 5):
- Each team gets two timeouts per match, each one minute long.
- Only the team in possession may call one during play. During a stoppage, the team due to have the ball at the restart may call one. No timeouts during a video review or between periods.
- The Head Coach calls "Timeout" and makes a "T" sign with the hands to the officials' table or a referee.
- Players must move straight into the half they're defending. After 45 seconds a whistle lets players move anywhere.
- Play restarts with a free throw on or behind the halfway line to the team that had (or was due) the ball, or with the penalty throw if one had been awarded.
Invalid timeouts:
- Called by the team not in possession during play: a penalty throw to the other team, and the calling team loses one timeout if it has one left.
- Called by the team in possession with none left: a free throw to the other team on or behind halfway.
Added 22 Oct 2026