Innertube Waterpolo Tournament
Spring 2006
Men's & Women's Divisions

Inner-Tube Water Polo Rules

1. Each team will consist of five players--one goalkeeper and four other players. Five players must be present to avoid forfeit. Teams may continue to play with less than this minimum if someone leaves the game due to injury.

2. The game will consist of three 10-minute periods. The clock will stop in the last minute of the third period if there is a two goal differential or less. A 2-minute interval exists between periods to allow for substitutions.

3. No overtime for regular season games. During playoffs, sudden death overtime will be used.

4. Each team is permitted one, 2-minute timeout. A team must be in possession of the ball when asking for a timeout.

5. Penalty shots will be taken 4 meters from the front of the goal. Only the goalkeeper may attempt to block the shot. All other players must be 4 meters from the shooter.

6. No shots may be taken within the 2-meter area.

7. All players must sit in tubes with both legs hanging over the edge.

8. Any player in possession of the ball may be dumped from his/her tube.

9. Jewelry is NOT allowed to be worn by any intramural participant. That includes visible rings (including wedding bands), watches, necklaces, earrings, studs, bracelets, and any other such similar jewelry. A player is subject to ejection for failure to remove any jewelry after first warning.

METHOD OF PLAY

1. At the start of each period, teams line up at the each end of the pool with one hand on the far wall. The ball will be tossed into the middle of the pool. On the official's whistle, both teams may propel their inner tubes toward the ball. Pushing off the wall to start is legal.

2. Players must sit horizontally in their inner tube with rear end in the middle of the tube and arms & legs over the side. No player may leave their inner tube. The ball may not be touched or maneuvered when a player is out of their tube. Handling the ball while not in a tube is a penalty resulting in a free throw for the opposing team. The only thing you can do when not in your tube is get back in it.

3. Players dribble the ball by pushing it in the water, holding it between their knees, with 2 hands, 1 hand in the air, against their body, or in their lap. One or both hands may be used to pass, catch, or throw the ball. The ball may not be held completely underwater.

4. Players may not hold on to the walls, goal or pull themselves along the edge.

5. Defensive players may push or dump the opponent's inner tube. Contact with the opponent's body is NOT permitted. The defensive player may also seize or knock the ball from the possession of the player holding the ball.

6. Only a player in possession of the ball may be dumped. Possession of the ball is a judgment call by the referee.

7. The feet may not be used to knock the ball out of the possession of another player or to score a goal.

8. Only the goalie may be inside the goal box at any time. A player is considered in the goal box when any portion of their inner tube enters the box. Offensive players will be called for a technical foul when illegally entering the box. If a defensive player enters the box, they must get out as soon as possible. A penalty shot will be awarded when a defensive player actively plays defense from within the box on a legal thrower.

9. Moving screens are NOT allowed. A player cannot use a teammate to leverage themselves or gain an unfair advantage.

10. A ball deflected out of the pool will be awarded to a player of the opposing team nearest to the point where it left the pool.

11. There will be no enforcement of the offside rule.

SCORING & GOAL KEEPING

1. A goal is scored when a legal shot, taken outside of the goal box, completely crosses the goal line. Any shots taken from inside the goal box will be disallowed. The ball may hit the water in its path to the goal.

2. If a player falls out of their tube or is legally dumped in the process of scoring a goal (following the throw and prior to the ball entering the goal), the goal will NOT count.

3. Following each goal, the ball is put back into play by the referee returning it to the goalie just scored upon.
4. The goalie MAY leave their tube in attempting to prevent a thrown ball from entering the goal. Once out of the tube, the goalie must get back in their tube before attempting to block any other shots. Offensive players may retrieve any rebounds that exit the goal box. Any rebounds that stay within the goal box must be retrieved by the defense. The goalie may retrieve a blocked shot that lands within the goal box before returning to his/her tube. Any other actions (blocking other shots, etc) by the goalie while he/she is out of his/her tube are illegal and will result in a penalty shot.

5. The goalie may NOT hold the ball, while in their tube, for more than 5 seconds in the goal box. The goalie may NOT throw the ball beyond the center line.

TECHNICAL FOULS

Each of the following infractions constitutes a technical foul:

A. Starting play before the referee blows the whistle
B. The goalie throwing the ball across the center line
C. Intentionally holding the ball
D. Intentionally delaying the game
E. Stalling - When a team is penalized for stalling, the opposing team will be awarded the ball for a free throw at the edge of the goal box of the team being penalized.
F. Striking the ball with a clenched fist (goalie exempted)
G. Any player going into their opponent's goal box. If a player is forced into the box but is still making an attempt to get out, NO foul will be called.
H. Touching the ball before it reaches the water on a face-off
I. Throwing directly at the goal on a free throw (must be first thrown to a teammate)
J. Holding onto the wall while in possession of the ball.
K. Holding the ball completely underwater.

The penalty for a technical foul is a free throw at the spot of the infraction.

PERSONAL FOULS

Each of the following infractions constitutes a personal foul:

A. Unnecessary or intentional bodily contact with an opposing player.
B. Holding onto or dumping an opposing player's inner tube when that opposing player is not is possession of the ball.
C. Contacting a player with the ball (tube may be dumped).
D. Deliberately splashing water in the face of an opponent.
E. Committing any technical foul for the purpose of scoring or preventing a score.

1. A player is disqualifed on his/her 3rd personal foul.

2. The penalty for a personal foul is a free throw at the spot of the infraction.

3. On the 5th personal foul (and thereafter) by a team in a half, a penalty throw will be awarded. Team fouls do not carry over to the next period.

4. For any flagrant, malicious, or violent fouls, the offending player will be ejected and a penalty shot wll be awarded to the offended team.

FREE THROWS & PENALTY THROWS

1. On all free throws, the ball must be passed within 5 seconds to a teammate before an attempt for a goal may be made. All players must be 3 feet away from the free thrower prior to the throw.

2. Penalty shots will be taken by the offended player.

3. The following procedure will be followed for all penalty throws:
a. A player taking the throw must line up on the edge of the goal box. All other players must be at least 3 feet away from the thrower.
b. The official shall ensure that both the goalie and thrower are ready. The thrower shall raise the ball into the air.
c. On the whistle, the thrower must attempt to score a goal. NO hesitation or faking is permitted. Hesitating or faking will result in loss of the penalty shot and ball awarded to the goalie for a throw.
d. Following a unsuccessful attempt, the ball remains live and in play.

***The Intramural Office Reserves the right to put into effect any new ruling regarding Intramural policies and unsportsmanlike conduct.