What do the secretaries each do?

With two secretaries at the table, one maintains the Record of the Game. The other handles the improper entry of excluded players or substitutes, the exclusion of players and third personal fouls.

Between them the secretaries:

• Signal a timeout and stoppage by whistle when a team calls one.
• Administer exclusion periods, including signalling when a period expires and when four minutes of actual play have passed after a violent action exclusion.
• Signal with a red flag (or another approved method) for an improper entry and for a third personal foul.

If a match has only one secretary and two timekeepers, that secretary keeps the record and performs all the secretary duties above.

Source: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (February 2026), Part Six, Articles 3.11 and 3.14.4.2.