Referee's Guide to Water Polo Australia Club Water Polo All Ages 2025/26

WPA's 2025/26 national technical rules (World Aquatics rules apply):

• Australian Water Polo League and the standard game: four periods of eight minutes of actual playing time, with 2-minute breaks between periods and a 3-minute break at half-time.
• 13&U national championships: four periods of six minutes running time, with a 2-minute break between periods and at half-time.
• 15&U and 17&U national championships: four periods of seven minutes of actual playing time, with 1-minute breaks between periods and a 2-minute break at half-time.

Clock time stops at every stoppage and resumes when the ball leaves the hand of the player taking the throw, or is touched by a player after a neutral throw. Teams change ends before the third period.

Sources: WPA National Technical Rules Overview 2025/2026 (Effective 1 September 2025); World Aquatics Competition Regulations Part Six, Article 4.

In the 25 June 2025 edition of the World Aquatics rules, a team may retain possession for no more than 28 seconds of actual play without shooting at the opponent's goal. The possession clock resets as follows:

• 28 seconds: when the ball comes into the possession of the defending team, including after a shot rebounds to the defending team; and after a penalty throw with a change of possession, a goal throw or a neutral throw.
• 18 seconds: when a shot rebounds from the posts, a player or the goalkeeper to the attacking team; after an exclusion foul is awarded to the defending player (unless more than 18 seconds remain, in which case the clock continues); after a penalty throw without a change of possession, or a corner throw; and when the ball leaves through the side lines from a deliberate defender action or a goalkeeper block of a shot.

Visible clocks count down, showing possession time remaining.

Source: World Aquatics Competition Regulations Part Six, Article 8.12 (edition in force from 25 June 2025). Earlier editions used 25 seconds (men) and 30 seconds (women).

An ordinary foul is punished by a free throw to the opposing team. Common examples:

• Advancing beyond the goal line at the start of a period before the referee's signal.
• Holding or pushing off from the goal posts, or the sides or ends of the pool, during actual play.
• Taking an active part in play while standing on the pool floor, walking, or jumping from the floor to play the ball or tackle (this does not apply to the goalkeeper within their 6 metre area).
• Taking or holding the entire ball under water when tackled, or deliberately hiding it.
• Striking the ball with a clenched fist (except the goalkeeper within their 6 metre area).
• Touching the ball with two hands at once (except the goalkeeper within their 6 metre area).
• Pushing or pushing off an opponent who is not holding the ball.
• Being in the opponent's goal area except when behind the line of the ball.
• Taking a free throw, goal throw, corner throw or penalty throw other than in the prescribed manner.
• Exceeding the possession time, deliberately giving up possession, simulating being fouled, or going under water to gain positional advantage.

Source: World Aquatics Competition Regulations Part Six, Article 8.

An exclusion foul is punished by a free throw to the opposing team and the exclusion of the offending player. Examples:

• Interfering with a free throw, goal throw or corner throw (for example throwing the ball away or trying to play it before it leaves the thrower's hand).
• Blocking a pass or shot with two hands outside the 6 metre area.
• Intentionally splashing an opponent in the face.
• Impeding, holding, sinking or pulling back an opponent who is not holding the ball, or using two hands to hold such an opponent.
• A tactical foul: a defender fouling the player in possession to stop the flow of an attack.
• Disproportionate movements, including kicking and striking.
• Misconduct and violent action (see the separate question).

The excluded player moves to the exclusion re-entry area nearest their own goal line without interfering with play. The player or a substitute may re-enter at the earliest of: 18 seconds of actual play elapsing, a goal being scored, the excluded player's team regaining possession, or their team being awarded a free throw, goal throw or penalty throw. They may not jump or push off from the side or wall, or affect the alignment of the goal.

Source: World Aquatics Competition Regulations Part Six, Articles 9.1 to 9.12, edition in force from 25 June 2025 (the 18 seconds replaced 15 seconds in that edition).

Both are exclusion fouls that end the player's game, but they are punished differently.

• Misconduct: unacceptable language, aggressive play, refusing obedience to or showing disrespect for a referee or official, or behaviour against the spirit of the Rules likely to bring the game into disrepute. During the game the player is excluded for the remainder of the game, with a substitute after the earliest re-entry occurrence, and must leave the competition area. If it happens during a stoppage, interval, timeout or after a goal, the player is excluded for the remainder of the game and a substitute may enter immediately before the restart.
• Violent action: kicking, striking, or attempting to kick or strike with malicious intent an opponent or official, during play or any stoppage. During the game the player is excluded for the remainder of the game, must leave the competition area, and a penalty throw is awarded to the opposing team. The player may be substituted when four minutes of actual play have elapsed. If it happens during a stoppage, timeout, after a goal or between periods, no penalty throw is awarded, but the exclusion and four-minute substitution rule still apply.

Source: World Aquatics Competition Regulations Part Six, Articles 9.13 and 9.14.

A penalty foul is punished by a penalty throw to the opposing team. Examples:

• A goalkeeper or defender committing any foul within the 6 metre area if a goal would probably have resulted.
• Pulling over, pulling down or otherwise displacing the goal.
• Within the 6 metres, a defender blocking a pass or shot with two hands, playing the ball with a clenched fist, or taking the ball under water when tackled.
• An excluded player intentionally interfering with play.
• A player or substitute who is not entitled to play entering the field of play.
• The coach or a team official of the team not in possession requesting a timeout.
• A defender deliberately throwing the ball away before a free throw can be taken, or pushing it inside the 6 metre line after a free throw to avoid a direct shot.
• A defender impeding an attacker from behind within 6 metres while the attacker faces goal and is shooting.

You can delay your whistle and wait to see whether the attacker scores in the same action. If they do not score, you sanction the penalty. For the impeding-from-behind foul, you must delay the call until the shot is completed and must award the penalty unless the attacker scores. You may raise an arm to indicate a possible penalty.

Source: World Aquatics Competition Regulations Part Six, Article 10.

• Any player of the awarded team takes it from any point on the opponents' 5 metre line.
• All players leave the 6 metre area and stay at least 3 metres from the thrower. One defender on each side of the thrower on the 6 metre line has first right to take position. The defending goalkeeper stands between the posts with no part of the body beyond the goal line at water level.
• You may give one warning to a player or goalkeeper to take the correct position. If they still do not, that player or goalkeeper is excluded.
• Signal the throw by whistle while lowering the arm from vertical to horizontal.
• The thrower must have possession and throw directly at the goal in one uninterrupted movement. The ball may be lifted from the water or held in the raised hand and taken backwards in preparation, as long as the movement is not interrupted before it leaves the hand.
• If the ball rebounds from the post, crossbar or goalkeeper it stays in play, and no other player needs to touch it before a goal can be scored.
• In the last minute of the game, the coach of a team awarded a penalty throw may instead choose to keep possession and take a free throw, with a clear signal and no delay.

Source: World Aquatics Competition Regulations Part Six, Article 15.

• Personal fouls: one is recorded against any player who commits an exclusion foul or penalty foul. You indicate the player's cap number to the secretary. On a third personal foul the player is excluded from the remainder of the game, with a substitute entering after the earliest re-entry occurrence (immediately if the third was a penalty foul). The player must sit in a designated area near the bench, if available.
• Yellow card to a team official: an official warning to the head coach.
• Red card: the head coach, other team officials or bench players must leave the pool area immediately. You may show a red card without a prior yellow if the head coach's actions require it. If the head coach is excluded, another team official may replace them without the head coach's privileges: they cannot stand and move away from the bench, but can ask for a timeout.
• Players in the water: if a player persists in unsporting play or simulation, show a yellow card to the offending team and point to the player. If it continues, show that player a red card, visible to the team and the official table, as misconduct. Misconduct by a team member in the water also earns a red card plus the sanction.

Source: World Aquatics Competition Regulations Part Six, Article 16.

• Each team may request two timeouts per game, each one minute long. The coach of the team in possession calls "timeout" and signals with the hands in a T-shape. A team has possession when one of its players is holding or swimming with the ball.
• A timeout may be requested at any time, including after a goal, but not during VAR review.
• Play restarts on your whistle, with the team in possession putting the ball into play on or behind the half distance line. If the timeout is requested between you awarding a penalty throw and its being taken, the penalty throw is maintained.
• Extra timeout by the team in possession: stop the game and restart with a player of the opposing team putting the ball into play at the half distance line.
• Timeout requested by the team not in possession: stop the game and award a penalty throw to the opposing team. That coach also loses the right to request a legal timeout if the team still has one.
• WPA youth championships differ: for 2025/26, the 13&U national championships have no timeouts, and 15&U and 17&U teams have two timeouts at any time (World Aquatics rules apply).

Sources: World Aquatics Competition Regulations Part Six, Article 5; WPA National Technical Rules Overview 2025/2026.

• Goal: scored when the entire ball has passed fully over the goal line, between the posts and under the crossbar. It can be scored from anywhere in the field of play with any part of the body except a clenched fist.
• Goal throw: awarded when the entire ball passes fully over the goal line (outside the posts and crossbar) having last been touched by anyone other than the defending goalkeeper, or when a defender blocks a shot over the goal line. It is taken by any player of that team from anywhere within the 2 metre area, or from where the ball is if outside 2 metres.
• Corner throw: awarded when the entire ball passes fully over the goal line having last been touched by the defending goalkeeper, or deliberately by a defending player. It is taken by an attacking player from the 2 metre mark on the side the ball crossed the line, and no attacking player may be in the goal area. A corner throw from the wrong position, or taken before attackers have left the goal area, is retaken.

Source: World Aquatics Competition Regulations Part Six, Articles 7.1, 12 and 13.

• Bleeding: order the player out of the water immediately, with a substitute entering immediately, and the game continues without interruption. Once the bleeding has stopped, the player can be a substitute in the ordinary course of the game.
• Other accident, injury or illness: you may briefly suspend the game at your discretion, ordering the immediate substitution of the injured player if needed.
• Restart after a stoppage: the team in possession at the time of the stoppage puts the ball into play at the place of stoppage.
• A player may only leave the water or sit or stand on the steps or side of the pool during play for accident, injury or illness, or with a referee's permission. Otherwise it is misconduct (an exclusion foul).

Source: World Aquatics Competition Regulations Part Six, Articles 9.4 and 17.1 to 17.4.

1. Join Water Polo Australia through the member portal. Gold Membership is needed to access the Water Polo Learning Centre content.
2. Get a Working with Children Check in your home state. WPA says to check your state's minimum age for the check; it gives no minimum age of its own.
3. Follow the Think Act Play Guidelines and complete the recommended Sports Integrity Australia requirements.
4. Log in to the Learning Centre and complete your accreditation: online modules plus practical activities supported by your State Association.

WPA also encourages face-to-face workshops, online programs and mentoring. Existing referees should check their Learning Centre profile to confirm their courses are up to date and all assessments are uploaded.

Source: https://waterpoloaustralia.com.au/get-involved/become-a-referee/

Water Polo Australia launched its Match Official Framework on 17 November 2025 to simplify qualification through minimum standards and a multi-step accreditation process. These compliance requirements apply at all levels:

• Be a registered WPA member (Gold Membership is needed to access Learning Centre content).
• Hold a Working with Children Check in your home state.
• Follow the Think. Act. Play. Guidelines.
• Complete the Sports Integrity Australia requirements: Competition Manipulation and Sports Gambling, Safeguarding Children and Young People Inductions, and Decision Making in Sport.

The framework describes six key areas: Performance, Tactical, Technical, Leadership, Communication and Team Fit. It also covers the profile and education expected at each level, how to advance, the code of behaviour and presentation expectations, the role of the Delegate, and the obligations of clubs, states and WPA.

Source: https://www.waterpoloaustralia.com.au/news/water-polo-australia-releases-match-official-framework