COED INNERTUBE WATERPOLO RULES
I. ELIGIBILITY
All participants are subject to the Intramural Eligibility Rules which are available in the
Rec. Sports Office. Only one intercollegiate or ex-intercollegiate is allowed per Water
Polo team, but that that team must play the “A” Division. No ex-intercollegiate players
may play the goalie position. Red shirt players and women’s club players are considered
players.
II. THE GAME
A. Seven players constitute a team - three men and three women and a goalie. A
team may start and continue play with five players but at no time can the number
be less than five. Men and women must be equal in numbers excluding the goalie.
B. The game consists of four 7 minute quarters with a two minute break between
quarters and a five minute break at half time.
C. Teams will switch ends of the pool at each quarter break.
D. Each team has two(2) time outs per game. Time outs may only be called by a
player who has control of the ball.
E. Substitutions may be made only during time outs, quarter breaks, and after a
goal has been scored.
F. The goal area extends two yards from the end of the pool across the entire
width of the pool.
III. EQUIPMENT
A. Caps and inner tubes will be provided by Rec. Sports.
B. All players are advised to clip finger and toe nails to avoid scratching and
cutting themselves and other players.
C. You may not urinate in the pool. IT MAY GIVE YOU AN
ADVANTAGE.
IV. SCRIMMAGE
A. Each team lines up at opposite sides of the pool.
B. Play begins each quarter with a drop ball, during which the referee throws the
ball into the center of the pool and both teams propel themselves toward the ball.
C. ALL PLAYERS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GOALIE, MUST BE
SITTING IN THEIR INNERTUBES. The goalie may sit in a horizontal or
vertical position inside the tube.
D. NO PLAYER MAY LEAVE THEIR TUBE TO TOUCH OR MANEUVER
THE BALL. If one is tipped from their tube, the player may not touch or control
the ball until they are back in the tube.
E. The goalie CANNOT leave their inner tube to prevent a thrown ball from
scoring, or to guard the goal.
F. One or both hands may be used at any time to touch, control or pass the ball.
G. The goalie CANNOT THROW THE BALL MORE THAN HALF THE
LENGTH OF THE POOL.
H. NO PART OF THE OFFENSIVE PLAYER’S BODY IS ALLOWED IN
THE GOAL AREA ANY TIME! Two (2) yards from the end of the pool on
offense).
I. Tackling an opponent who has possession of the ball is legal, but must be done
from an inner tube. No player may leave their inner tube to tackle an opponent.
J. Only one defensive player may occupy the goal area while the ball is in play.
K. Goalie may not stand on the floor of the pool.
L. No violent action toward the head or neck area.
V. SCORING
A. A player scoring a goal must not fall out of their inner tube while taking or
immediately following a shot, or the goal does not count.
B. Each goal made by a female player counts as two (2) points, each goal scored
by a male player counts as one (1) point.
C. A goal does not count if the shot is taken within two yards of the end of the
pool (within the goal area.)
D. Each successful penalty shot is worth one point.
E. A shot is a goal after 1/2 the ball breaks the plane.
F. If a tie still remains after regulation and an overtime period, a three-shot per
team shoot-out will result from 8 meters.
VI. FREE THROWS
A. A free throw by the member of the non-violating team NEAREST TO THE
POINT OF INFRACTION will be awarded for the following minor infractions:
1. Out-of-bounds (taken where the ball went out by nearest player to the spot.)
2. Holding onto the pool while in possession of the ball.
3. Holding the ball underwater.
4. An offensive player in the goal area.
5. The goalie throwing the ball more than half the length of the pool.
B. A free throw by the member of the non-violating team NEAREST TO THE
POINT OF INFRACTION will be awarded the following personal fouls:
1. Touching the ball while not in an inner tube.
2. Holding, pushing, hitting, jumping, tackling, ducking, or dumping an
opposing player WHO IS NOT IN POSSESSION OF THE BALL.
3. The goalie holding the side of the pool, while in possession of the ball.
4. Tipping an opponent out of their tube immediately following a shot in an
attempt to discredit the goal.
5. Persistently repeating an infraction, even after the referee’s warnings.
C. DURING A FREE THROW, ONE PASS MUST BE MADE BEFORE AN
ATTEMPTED GOAL.
D. An opponent may not touch, impede, or interfere with the free thrower’s pass.
