INNER TUBE WATER POLO RULES - RecSports

athletes may compete for one team in a non-related sport. See the Intramural SportsParticipant Handbook for specifications.RULE 3: FORFEITS, DEFAULTS, AND PROTESTS1. FORFEITS: If a team fails to appear for a scheduled game or match by game time, orfollowing the grace periods, a forfeit will be declared. If a team forfeits a contest, thecaptain’s student account will be charged a $20 forfeit fee, the team will be ineligible forpostseason competition, and the team may be dropped from the league if there is a waitlist team to replace them. A team with two forfeits will be automatically dropped fromthe league.2. DEFAULTS: If a team notifies the intramural office of their inability to field the requirednumber of participants for their game, no later than 2:00PM on the day of the contest, itwill be marked as a default. If a team has one less than the minimum number ofparticipants required to play signed in at game time or during the grace period, an on-sitedefault will be declared. A default/on-site default is an un-played game that is recorded asa loss with a sportsmanship rating of a 3 for the defaulting team. Once the default hasbeen requested, it cannot be overturned. No forfeit fine is charged to the defaulting team.3. GRACE PERIOD: Teams will be granted a 5 minute grace period from the original gametime if at least one player has signed in at game time. If the minimum number of playersrequired to start are signed in before the grace period has concluded, the game will beginand the opposing team will be awarded 1 point. The game clock for the first half will beset at 5 minutes. If no players are signed in at game time, there is no grace period and thegame will be declared a forfeit.4. OPTIONAL GRACE PERIOD: After the original grace period has expired, the opposingcaptain has the option of taking the win or waiting an additional 5 minutes. In the eventhe captain decides to wait, the decision is irreversible. If the minimum number of playersrequired to start are signed in before the optional grace period has expired, the game willbegin and the opposing team will be awarded an additional point (total of 2 points). Thegame will begin in the second half with 10 minutes on the clock.1. PROTESTS: If a team wants to submit a protest, the team captain must stop playimmediately and notify the games officials and intramural sports manager. Theintramural sports manager will document the appeal and forward it to the intramuralsports Graduate Assistants or Coordinator if they cannot settle the protest on site. Teamscannot protest an official’s judgment.RULE 4: PLAYING AREA AND EQUIPMENT1. PLAYING AREA: All games will be played in the Student Aquatics Center (SAC) indoordiving well.2

a. The defense must remain at least 3 feet away until the ball is released. Free throwsare awarded for violations from a point nearest the spot of the infraction.b. During a free throw, the offense has 5 seconds to pass the ball to a teammate. Agoal may not be scored from a free throw.6. DELAY OF GAME: Players may not deliberately hold the ball to delay the game. At theofficial's discretion, a "Delay of Game Warning" will be issued. Subsequent offenses willresult in a "Delay of Game Penalty" and the opposing team will gain possession at the spotof the penalty and be awarded a free throw.7. OFFSIDES: There is no offside rule.8. SCORING: A goal is scored when a legal shot (taken outside the goal box) completelycrosses the goal line. If the shot is taken from inside the goal box, the goal will not count.A player scoring a goal must remain in his/her tube until the ball crosses the goal line orthe score will not count.9. OUT OF BOUNDS: When the ball goes out of bounds, a free throw will be award to theteam that did not touch the ball last.10. GOALIE RESRICTIONS:a. The goalie may not leave his/her tube in an attempt to block a shot from enteringthe goal. This will result in a Penalty Shot for the offended team.b. The goalie may never pass the ball beyond the mid-pool line.c. The goalie may not leave the goal box area during play.d. Once the goalie gains possession of the ball, he/she will have 5 seconds to releasethe ball.e. Once the ball has been put back into play, the ball may not be passed back to thegoalie.f. Following a score, the ball will be put into play by the goalie. The goalie must waitfor the official's whistle to re-start play.11. GOAL BOX RESTRICTIONS:a. The area that extends 5-meters from the pool edge and extends the entire widthof the playing area is the goal box. This area is marked by the backstroke flags inthe pool or the end of the black box at the bottom of the diving well.b. No player other than the goalie may enter the goal box (exception - defensiveplayers may enter their own goal box to retrieve a ball that is out of the goalie'sreach). This violation occurs when any part of the player's innertube or bodybreaks the plane of the backstroke flags.5

c. The backstroke flags are considered in play. Any shot that contacts the flags is stillconsidered legal.12. FOUL AND MISCONDUCT:a. Players may not hold, push, hit, splash, dunk, or tackle any other players with orwithout the ball. If a player is in control of the ball, the player MAY NOT betouched. Penalty: Free Throw.b. After each of the first 3 team fouls during a half, a free throw will be taken by theoffended player from a point nearest the spot of the violation.c. The bonus will go into effect on the fourth team foul of a half. Once in the bonus,the offended team will be awarded a penalty shot after every team foul.13. PENALTY SHOTS:a. Penalty shots shall be taken by the offended player at the 5-meter line. Nodefensive player may be within 3 feet of the shooter.b. If the result of the penalty shot is not a goal, the ball remains in play.c. A technical foul is a foul by a player or any behavior deemed by the official to beunsportsmanlike. A player that receives 2 unsportsmanlike technical fouls in agame will be ejected. For all technical fouls, a penalty shot will be awarded to theoffended team. Any player in the pool at the time of the technical foul may shootthe Penalty Shot.d. For any flagrant, malicious, or violent fouls, the offending player will be ejectedand a Penalty Shot will be awarded to the offended team.14. SUBSTITUTIONS: A team must notify the official of all substitutions. No player may enterthe pool without permission of the official. Teams may substitute anytime a whistle isblown.RULE 7: COED MODIFICATIONS1. TEAM COMPOSITION: Each team will consist of 6 players in the pool at one time. Aminimum of 4 players are required to start the game.a. 6 players are in the pool - 3 males and 3 femalesb. 5 players are in the pool – 2 males and 3 females or 3 males and 2 femalesc. 4 players are in the pool – 2 males and 2 females2. 2 points will be awarded for each female goal scored.3. In a shootout, teams must alternate shots on goal between male and female.RULE 8: SPORTSMANSHIP1. RATING: Each team will begin the contest with a 5 sportsmanship rating and shall be rated bythe officials at the end of the contest. The authority of the officials’ ratings exists prior to,6

2. During the postseason, teams are required to obtain a sportsmanship rating of a 3 orhigher each game in order to continue through the playoff. At any point during thegame, if a team falls below a 3 sportsmanship rating, the game officials will end thegame and that team will be out of the playoffs.8