When do I blow the whistle?
Rule- South Africa
- Swimming South Africa
- Water polo
- World Aquatics rules
- All ages
- 2025/26
- Referees
Under World Aquatics rules (Part Six, Article 3.8):
- To start the match, the Referee on the officials' table side blows the whistle.
- After that, referees whistle to:
- start or restart play (including the start of a period) where needed, and restart after a goal;
- award goals, goal throws, corner throws or neutral throws;
- signal fouls and other infringements;
- signal a timeout has been called, or any other stoppage.
- When awarding a free throw, goal throw, corner throw or penalty throw, the Referee making the award whistles and gives the signal, and both referees point in the direction the team awarded the throw is attacking.
- At a stoppage, let substitutions finish before restarting (players must be ready so they don't delay the match).
Timekeepers and secretaries also use whistles: the secretary (or a referee) whistles to stop play for a timeout, and the timekeeper whistles at 45 seconds and at the end of a timeout, and to end each period.
Added 22 Oct 2026