When is a player excluded for the rest of the match, and when can a substitute come in?
Rule- South Africa
- Swimming South Africa
- Water polo
- World Aquatics rules
- All ages
- 2025/26
- Referees
Under World Aquatics rules (Part Six, Articles 10, 17, 18 and 21):
| Reason | When a substitute may enter |
|---|---|
| Misconduct (unacceptable language, aggressive play, refusing orders, disrespect, leaving the pool without permission, acting against the spirit of the game). Red card | Earliest of 18 s of play, a goal, the team regaining the ball, or the team being awarded a free throw, goal throw or penalty throw. If awarded during a stoppage: immediately before the restart |
| Violent action (contact or attempted contact with malicious intent). A penalty throw is awarded if it happened during play | After 4 minutes of actual play |
| Interference with a penalty throw after the whistle. Red card | Earliest of the normal re-entry events above |
| Third personal foul | Immediately if the third was a penalty foul; otherwise the normal re-entry events |
| Grease or oil found after play has started | Immediately |
A player excluded under Article 10 or 17 is also shown a red card. After a team yellow card, any player of that team who repeats the behaviour is shown a red card and excluded for the rest of the match.
A player excluded for the rest of the match leaves via the re-entry area and then the competition area (a player out for three personal fouls may sit on the bench). When the excluded player is the goalkeeper, a substitute goalkeeper may replace a field player at any time.
Updated 22 Oct 2026