How long are games and the breaks between periods?

Question

Accepted Answer

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.