NFHS 2007 casebook situations

Casebook (Situations) for the 2007-08 NFHS Water Polo Rules
(Listed in Rule Number Order) 8-31-07

Point of Emphasis #26: Video Review
Situation: A player’s nose is broken in a game. During the game, the coach requests to use his/her game tape to prove that an opposing player deliberately hit the player. Is this allowed?
Ruling: The use of videotapes by officials to make decisions related to the game during the game is prohibited.

Rule 1: Field of Play and Equipment
Rule 1-6 Non-Conforming Pool Markings
Situation: The markings on the pool side lines do not conform to the rule and the size and placement of cones on the pool deck do not meet specifications. What should be the action of the referee prior to the game?
Ruling: The referee must point out major deficiencies to the administrator present or, if no administrator is present, to the coach, but not engage in discussion with the coach over the problem. After the match, the referee must report any issues with the course, equipment, caps or desk to the association and assigning authority in an effort to correct the problems. The association should report the deficiencies to the school administration.

Rule 3: The Ball
Rule 3-5 Ball Retrieval
Situation: A ball goes over the goal line and remains outside the field of play. A second ball lands in a similar area. The goalkeeper then leaves the field of play to retrieve one of the balls. What should the referee call in this situation?
Ruling: The referee excludes the goalkeeper for 20 seconds for leaving the field of play without permission (Rule 21-4). To prevent this situation from occurring, five game-quality balls must be available for all championship games and are recommended for all games, one with the referee and two at each bench. When a ball goes out of bounds over the goal line, the coach must have a team member from the bench immediately retrieve the ball and return it to the bench. If the coach does not do this, the referee shall warn the coach and, at the next occurrence, shall give the coach a yellow card.

Rule 4: Caps
Rule 4-1 Logos on Caps
Situation: A white water polo cap has a team logo on the front of the cap and a manufacturer’s logo on the back of the cap. May the caps have both a team logo and a manufacturer’s logo on the cap?
Ruling: Yes. All team caps may have team identification (name, mascot, etc.) and one visible manufacturer's logo/trademark/reference. The size of the manufacturer’s logo is not to exceed 21⁄4 square inches and not exceed 21⁄4 inches in any dimension. The size of the team identification (name, mascot, etc.) is not specified in NFHS rules.
Rule 4-5 Goalkeeper’s Swim Cap Color
Situation: The visiting goalkeeper wears a white swim cap under the water polo cap. Is this permitted?
Ruling: Yes. Rule 4-5 states that the color of the goalkeeper’s swim caps must be red or a color which matches the color of the water polo cap as closely as possible. Therefore, the swim cap worn by a visiting goalkeeper may be white or red, either color of which matches a panel in the water polo cap of the goalkeeper. This rule change allows all members of a team to wear swim caps of one color.

Rule 5: Teams and Substitutes
Rule 5-2 Referee Change of Sides in a Shallow-Deep Pool
Situation: The referee declares a pool to be shallow-deep. One coach requests to change ends after each period. What standard should the referee use to determine if the pool should be classified as shallow-deep? When do the referees change sides in a shallow-deep pool if one team requests to change ends each period?
Ruling: A pool is considered to be shallow-deep if any portion of the water polo course is less than 6 feet, 6 inches (2.0m) in depth. In a shallow-deep pool, if one team requests to change ends each period, the referees change sides before the second period, the fourth period, before the first period of any regular overtime, and before the first sudden-victory overtime period.
Rule 5-4 Articles Likely to Cause Injury
Situation: A player requests permission to wear a padded cast, a finger splint or a face mask during a game. Should the referee allow this?
Ruling: These articles should not be allowed as they are regarded as articles likely to cause injury, either to the player wearing the item or to the opposing player. The list in Rule 5-4 is not meant to be all-inclusive. The referee needs to judge each article for its potential to cause injury. A padded cast on an arm could cause injury to another player as it is heavier than the normal limb. A finger splint could cause a serious eye injury. With these devices, there is also the real possibility of the player wearing these devices suffering additional injury to the injured area as the cast, splint or face mask do not offer complete protection.
Rule 5-4 Articles Likely to Cause Injury
Situation: Player A requires prescription goggles due to eye surgery in order to participate safely. The athlete has written clearance from the doctor and parents. Since goggles are prohibited, the school has contacted the state association and received written permission as this special goggle does not appear likely to cause injury due to the special material. The letter is provided to the referee prior to competition.
Ruling: Correct procedure.
Comment: The rule requires removal of articles likely to cause injury, but permits the referee to exercise discretion in making that determination. In this situation, an article that is generally prohibited can be considered by the state association if addressing a special need.
Rule 5-4 Zippers
Situation: What action should a referee take with regards to a unzipped or broken zipper?
Ruling: A zipper which is not fully zipped or is broken is considered to be an article which is likely to cause injury to either that player or to another player. If the zipper becomes unzipped during the game, the player should zip up the suit at the next appropriate stoppage of the game, when that player’s team is in possession of the ball, without taking away the advantage (Rule 7-3), just as in the cap replacement rule (Rule 4-1). If the zipper can not be zipped up at that time or if the zipper is broken or suit is torn, the referee shall remove the player, allow the immediate entrance of a substitute, and the original player may be substituted in after the problem is corrected. No foul is charged to that player. This rule applies to the goalkeeper as well as to the field players.

Rule 6: Officials
Rule 6-1 Desk Observers
Situation: The visiting team has two official observers at the scoring table. The observers cheer after each goal for their team. What action should the referee take?
Ruling. The official observers at the scoring table are considered to be part of the desk officials and must act in a neutral, professional manner during a game. The desk supervisor, if present, or referees must inform the observers to cease this action or leave the scoring table.

Rule 7: Referees
Rule 7-4 Requirement for coach
Situation: Both the head coach and assistant coach receive red cards in a game. There is no other coach on the bench. Should the referee forfeit this game because there is no coach on the bench?
Ruling: The answer varies depending upon which rules are being used. In NFHS games, the associations usually require that a certified coach from that school or other official representative of that school (such as the athletic director) be on the bench or the game will be forfeited. In NCAA games, there is no rule that there must be a coach on the bench during the remainder of this game. However, conferences may have their own rules governing this situation. In FINA no coach is required to be on the bench. In United States Water Polo, the game may proceed if there is one coach on one bench. During the next NFHS game, neither of these coaches may be on the team bench, but another coach or official school representative may be the designated coach on the bench.
Rule 7-4-4 Disruptive Behavior of Coach
Situation: There are 50 seconds remaining in the game. The team on defense has a player not entitled to participate enter the field of play. The coach of the team in possession of the ball elects to maintain possession of the ball rather than taking the penalty throw. As play is restarted, the coach of the team on defense then has another player jump in and again the coach elects to maintain possession of the ball rather than taking the penalty throw. This then happens a third time. How may the referee handle this situation?
Ruling: The referee may award a red card to the coach for disruptive behavior.
Rule 7-4-4 Location of Coach Issued a Red Card
Situation: A coach is issued a red card. The coach remains in one corner of the pool, away from the field of play. Is this allowed?
Ruling: No. The referee must require the coach or other team official to leave the pool facility. The referee can forfeit the game if the coach refuses to leave. The incident must be reported to the appropriate association or organization.
Rule 7-4-5 Time of Award of Card
Situation: A coach kicks over a deck marker cone in anger. The referee decides to award the coach a yellow card. The referee blows the whistle to award the yellow card as the non-offending team is countering down the pool. Is this the correct time?
Ruling: No. The rule states that the referee shall whistle to stop play to administer a red or a yellow card without taking the advantage away from the non-offending team. Therefore, the referee should have waited until the conclusion of the counterattack, then stop play, call the ball out of the pool and show the appropriate card. The referee should then put the ball back into play. A goal may not be scored by a direct shot on goal in this instance.
Rule 7-5 Coach Behavior
Situation: A coach continually loudly criticizes the referee, running down the side line yelling at the referees. The actions of the coach incite similar behavior in the crowd. What action should the referee take?
Ruling: The referee should award an immediate red card to the coach and order the removal of the coach from the entire precincts of the pool as the behavior of the coach prevents the referees from carrying out their duties in a proper and impartial manner. The referee may also abandon the game (Rule 7-6) if the behavior of coaches, players or spectators prevents the game from brought to a proper conclusion. The award of the red card also includes the additional punishment of exclusion from the next game.
Rule 7-9-b Timing Error
Situation: A player is excluded for 20 seconds. The player is waved in at the proper time (both the game clock and the shot clock showed that 20 seconds had elapsed at the time of the wave-in) and the player comes under the lane line with 14 seconds remaining on the shot clock as a goal scores. That team’s coach states the player was waved in incorrectly and the goal should be removed. What should be the ruling of the referee?
Ruling: The referee has the authority to determine if the error was significant. In order to disallow a goal, the error must have affected play. In this case the flag was not late and the player coming under the lane line with 14 seconds remaining on the shot clock would be a typical response time. The referee should take no action.
Rule 7-9-e Failure of an Excluded Player to Leave Field of Play
Situation: A player outside the 5-meter line is fouled and that player’s defender is excluded. The player on offense picks up the ball, which is also outside the 5-meter line, and takes a direct shot on goal, which the goalie catches and immediately throws to the excluded player who did not realize that he/she was excluded and is making no effort to leave the pool. What is the appropriate action of the referee in this situation?
Ruling: If no player leaves the field of play, the referee should remove the ball from the field of play and immediately correct the situation by removing the excluded player since a goal has not been scored (Rule 7-9-e and Rule 21-2). The clocks must be reset and the ball put in play by the original player. That player may not start play with a direct shot on goal as the referee removed the ball from the pool in order to remove the excluded player (Rule 14-3-e) while correcting the situation.
Rule 7-9-k Interruption of Extra Player Situation
Situation: With 4:53 remaining in the game the team with blue caps has a two goal lead and is defending a man-down situation. The white team sets up its power play offense and for 17 seconds maintains possession and successfully passes the ball in order to set up an appropriate shot on goal. With three seconds remaining in the white team’s man-up situation, a stray ball from an adjacent warm-up area behind the goal enters the field of play. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: If the entrance of the ball affects play, the referee should stop the game, remove the ball, instruct the timekeepers to reset the game clock and shot clock, and restart the extra player situation. It would not be in the spirit of Rule 7-9 for the referees to restart play with three seconds remaining on the player advantage situation. The offense would not have enough time to benefit from its advantage. The player with the ball who was outside the 5-meter line could not take a direct shot on goal because the referee had called for the ball (Rule 14-3-e). Knowing this, the defense would press the other five offensive players, most likely preventing a goal in the remaining three seconds. Similar action should be taken if a lane line holding the goal in place breaks, the clock fails, etc., if the event affects the extra player advantage situation.
Rule 7-9 Referee Error in Waving in Excluded Player
Situation: A team is playing with red caps for the home team field players. A player from that team is excluded, that exclusion making that player’s third personal foul. The desk raised the red flag to signify the third foul. The referee on the far side of the pool saw this and immediately waved in the player before the substitution of a player for the excluded player. The player re-entered the pool as a result of this signal of the referee. What action should be taken?
Ruling: Since the referee waved in the player by mistake during the extra-player situation, thinking the red flag was the player’s signal for re-entry because of their red caps, the referee should remove that player with three fouls without a penalty throw, put a substitute back in the re-entry area, reset the clocks to the beginning of the exclusion period, and restart the game.
Rule 7-9 Timing Error
Situation: The score was tied in a game. The team with white caps had the ball with 12 seconds remaining in the game and with two seconds remaining on the shot clock. The player with the ball was fouled outside the 5-meter line and the ball was knocked a few feet away. While the player was retrieving the ball, the shot clock expired. What should the referee do in this situation?
Ruling: The referee must take the ball from the water, reset the shot clock to two seconds, put two seconds back on the game clock, and then give the ball back to the player with the white cap to take the free throw. That player can not take a direct shot on goal as the ball may not be shot if the referee calls the ball out to correct a clock error (Rule 14-3-g). Although this action takes away the advantage (Rule 7-3) from the player with the ball and is against the spirit of Rule 7-9 (correctable errors), there is no other way within the rules to handle this. For example, if the referee motioned to the players to play on, the referee could not know with certainty that all players understood the situation (that they were to ignore the shot clock buzzer). In addition, if the player did not take and score a direct shot, the referee would have had to then stop play to correct the game clock error as two seconds had been run off in error. Also, the shot clock may have expired or not, depending upon the action of the player with the ball, in which case the ball might need to be turned over to the blue team.
Rule 7-10 Protest Over Misapplication of Rules
Situation: The coach of the losing team in a situation where the referee restarted play with a 6 on 5 instead of a 6 on 4 extra player situation (due to a misinterpretation of the rule) filed a protest after the game within the correct time period. The protest was upheld at the site. Should the entire game be replayed at a later date or should play be resumed at the point of the referee error the same night?
Ruling: Play should resume at the point of the error that same night and all goals and fouls assessed during this time period (from the error to the end of the game) shall not count, except that the following cards and fouls shall remain as issued: any issuance of a yellow or red card, any instance of misconduct excluding minor acts of disrespect, and any instance of brutality, including fighting. This is the procedure described in Rule 5-1 for a similar referee error.
Rule 7-11 Forfeit Time
Situation: The visiting team notified the home team that it will arrive late due to transportation problems. At what point does a team have to forfeit a game for not showing up on time even if the team contacted the home team?
Ruling: If a team is not ready to start the game within 30 minutes of the announced starting time, unless there is mutual consent between the competing institutions, the game is declared a forfeit.

Rule 9: Timekeepers
Rule 9-3 Clock Buzzers
Situation: The buzzer for the expiration of time on the game clock and of time on the shot clock have the same sound. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should instruct either the game timer or the shot clock timer to sound an air horn or whistle when the game clock reaches 0.00. This is usually the responsibility of the shot clock timer as the shot clock is blanked when less than 35 seconds remain in a period and a new period of possession is awarded.

Rule 11: Duration of the Game
Rule 11-2 Interval Between Periods
Situation: One coach requests that the half-time interval in an official conference game be increased to ten minutes. May this be granted?
Ruling: No. The duration of the interval at half-time may be shortened if both coaches agree, but it may not be lengthened beyond five minutes.

Rule 12: Time-Outs
Rule 12-1-2 The Award of a Time-Out
Situation: The time-out secretary sees the coach of the team on defense signal for a time-out when it appeared that the team on defense is about to take possession of the ball. The time-out secretary signals the award of the time-out with an air horn. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should ignore the action of the time-out secretary and motion for play to continue (Rule 12-1-2), both because the time-out secretary may not signal the award of a time-out and because the defense is not allowed to call a time-out at this time (Rule 12-5). Even though a tournament host may provide a time-out secretary to record and time the duration of the time-outs, the time-out secretary is not permitted to signal the award of a time-out.
Rule 12-2 Position of Players During Time-out
Situation: An excluded player climbs from the water during a 20-second time-out in a tournament or during any regular time-out to meet with the team and then moves down the deck to the re-entry area to enter the pool when signaled. What action should the referee take?
Ruling: No action. During a time-out (either regular or 20-second) an excluded player may leave the water, meet with the team and then move down the deck to the re-entry area. If the coach is substituting for the excluded player, the excluded player does not have to go to the re-entry area before a substitute can enter the pool at the appropriate time.
Rule 12-3 Starting after Regular Time-out
Situation: A time-out is called during regular play. After the warning whistle at 1:45, the teams line up to resume play as after a time-out. The referee throws the ball on the half distance line even though the player taking the free throw is approximately 5 yards behind half. What should the referee have done?
Ruling: After a time-out (with the exception of a time-out called before a corner throw or penalty throw), the players may take any position in the field of play and one member of the team in possession of the ball puts the ball in play at or behind the half distance line. The referee should throw the ball to the player who signals that he/she is the player putting the ball into play. The player is able to put the ball into play where the player desires as long as it is in conformance with the rules for the restart after a time-out (the player must be at or behind half).
Rule 12-4 Additional Time-out Requested by Team on Offense
Situation: The coach of the team in possession of the ball requests a fourth time-out. What should be the action of the referee
Ruling: The referee must stop the game on the signal of the coach and play shall be restarted by a player of the opposing team putting the ball into play at or behind the half distance line as after a time-out. The referee may not ignore the signal.
Rule 12-5 Defense Calls Time-out at Time Not Permitted
Situation: The coach of the team on defense calls a time-out by sounding the air horn during a counterattack by the other team. By mistake, the referee stops play. The coach explains that one of that team’s players seems to be injured. Is the defense charged with a time-out?
Ruling: The team is not charged with a time-out. Even though the referee should not have stopped play for the time-out called by the team on defense, the referee did stop play. The referee must remove the ball from the water and then restart play with a free throw to the team on offense. The player who restarts play may not take a direct shot on goal (Rule 14-3-e). If the referee felt that this action was a deliberate act to stop a scoring opportunity, the referee may award the coach a red card (Rule 7-4) or even a penalty foul (Rule 22-7). If a player is actually injured, the coach may call out to draw the attention of the referee to this situation or the injured player may swim towards the side of the pool to get the referee’s attention. However, the referee is the only person who may stop play for bleeding, injury, etc. The team is not charged with a time-out.
Rule 12-6 Starting After Time-out
Situation: When 30 seconds remain in the time-out, the players on the team on offense move down to the offensive end of the pool. Should the referee allow this?
Ruling: No. Teams may take up their positions to restart after the referee’s signal when 15 seconds remain in the time-out. The referee must motion the players to return to their half of the course. After the warning signal, either team may have players in either the offensive or defensive end of the pool or both, subject to the rules relating to the taking of a penalty throw or corner throw.

Rule 13: The Start of Play
Rule 13-4 Ball Thrown to Advantage of One Team
Situation: At the start of a period, the referee threw the ball into the field of play on one side of the half distance line instead of on the half distance line. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should award a neutral throw on the half distance line.

Rule 14: Method of Scoring
Rule 14-3-c Shooting a Goal Throw
Situation: The ball goes out of bounds over the goal line and is awarded to the goalkeeper. May the goalkeeper take a direct shot at the other goal?
Ruling: Yes. If the ball enters the goal, passing fully over the goal line, the referee must award the goal.
Rule 14-3 Signal for Eligibility to Shoot a Direct Shot
Situation: The referee raises one arm to signal that a direct shot may be taken on goal. Is this allowed?
Ruling: No. There is no such signal permitted in the rules and the referee should not indicate in any way that a player is eligible or not eligible to take a direct shot.
Rule 14-3 Method of Shooting a Direct Shot
Situation: The player shooting from outside 5 meters (after that player’s team has been awarded a free throw for a foul committed outside 5 meters) takes a brief amount to look at the goal prior to taking an immediate shot on goal? Should the referee allow this?
Ruling: Yes, the rules permit this.
Rule 14-3 Method of Shooting a Direct Shot
Situation: A player is fouled outside the 5-meter line. The shooter pick up the ball with the left hand, immediately transfer the ball to the right hand and shoots the ball which then enters the goal. There is otherwise no fake, hesitation or delay in the direct shot. Should the referee count the goal?
Ruling: No. The player must pick the ball up with the hand with which he/she intends to shoot. Transferring the ball from one hand to the other is putting the ball into play as far as a referee or defending player can tell (Rule 14-3 Note). However, if the foul is awarded outside 5 meters with the ball inside 5 meters, the player must get the ball and move back to the line of the foul. The player may transfer the ball to the other hand while getting back to the correct position to take the free throw.
Rule 14-3 –f Direct Shot from Ball Leaving Side of Field of Play
Situation: A defending field player tips a shot over the sideline. After the ball is given to the goalkeeper to put into play, the goalkeeper takes a direct shot on goal and the ball enters the goal. Should the referee allow the goal?
Ruling: No. The goal does not be count since a goal may not be scored directly from the restart after the ball leaves the side of the field of play. However, the ball may be shot and a goal scored if the ball went over the goal line and is awarded to the goalkeeper.
Rule 14-3 Fouls at Five Meters
Question: With the change in the rules from the 7-meter direct shot to the 5-meter direct shot, should referees be instructed to call fewer fouls at or outside 5 meters in order to prevent an easier direct shot on goal?
Answer: There has been no change in instructions to the referees. If there are fewer direct shots on goal from behind the 5-meter line, it might be because the defender is not as likely either to foul a player in that position or to drop off the shooter as much as before after a foul, since the defender knows that allowing a direct shot on goal is more likely to produce a goal from 5 meters as compared to 7 meters. The defender is also more likely to show the referee that he/she is not fouling that player with the ball. In addition, the referee tends to make sure it is a foul before blowing the whistle, but the referee should not ignore clear fouls by defensive players at on just behind the 5-meter line or call the foul differently depending upon how much time remains on the shot clock. If the offensive player is clearly trying to draw a foul by aggressively digging into a defender who is clearly trying to avoid committing a foul, this is an offensive foul and the ball should be turned over.
Rule 14-6-e Illegal Shot
Situation: A player is fouled inside the 5-meter line and takes a direct shot on goal. The defender puts up two hands. Should the referee award a penalty shot?
Ruling: No. The referee should turn the ball over to the defense since the ball was shot illegally (Rule 14-3 and Rule 14-6-e).

Rule 16: Goal Throws
Rule 16-2 Method of Taking Goal Throw
Situation: A player other than the goalkeeper took the goal throw. Should the referee allow this?
Ruling: Yes. A goal throw may be taken by any player of the team anywhere within the 2 yard/m area. The player should be the player nearest to the ball.
Rule 16-2 Method of Taking Goal Throw
Situation: In taking a goal throw, the goalkeeper raised the ball behind the head and the ball touched the back of a wall goal or, in the case of a floating goal, the ball went completely behind the goal line. One referee awards a goal to the opposing team. The other referee signals a corner throw. Which is correct?
Ruling: Neither a goal nor a corner throw should be awarded. The referee should simply allow the game to continue as the ball was not in play at the time it was behind the goal line.

Rule 17: Corner Throws
Rule 17-1 Corner Throw
Situation: A defensive player deflects a pass and sends the ball out over the goal line. What should be the call of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should award a corner throw. This is considered to be an example of the defensive team deliberately sending the ball over the goal line.

Rule 19: Free Throws
Rule 19-1-a Ball over Sideline
Situation: A defender deflects a pass over the sideline. The nearest player on the team on offense swims over the sideline out of the field of play to get the ball, returns to the field of play, and is about to put the ball into play. Should the referee allow that player to put the ball into play?
Ruling: No. The player on offense is allowed to reach over the sideline to retrieve a ball and put the ball into play at that point, but the player may not leave the field of play to do so. Since the player left the field of play without the permission of the referee to retrieve the ball, the referee should exclude the player for 20 seconds and turn the ball over to the opposing team.

Rule 20: Ordinary Fouls
Rule 20-1 Perimeter Fouling
Question: Is there a difference in how perimeter fouling is called with the change from a 7-meter to a 5-meter direct shot?
Answer: No. There is no change in how perimeter fouling is called.
Rule 20-16-b, c Tip of the Ball
Situation: A defending goalkeeper tips a shot over the sideline. To which team should the referee award the ball?
Ruling: The referee should award the ball to the offense. If a defending field player tips a shot over the sideline, the ball is put in play by the defense (which may include the goalkeeper) at the point where the ball went over the sideline or at any point behind this point. If the defending goalkeeper tips the shot over the sideline or if the goalkeeper tips the ball so that it flies off the goal and over the sideline, a free throw is awarded to the offense at or behind the point where the ball went over the sideline.
Rule 20-16 and Rule 17-1 Rebounding Ball
Situation: The offense shoots and the ball rebounds off the goalkeeper or off the face of the goal. The rebounding ball strikes a defender, and the ball then bounces over the goal line out of bounds. To which team should the referee award the ball?
Ruling: The referee should award a corner throw to the offense. The actual shot is completed when the ball rebounds off the goalkeeper or off the face of the goal. Since the rebound after the shot then subsequently strikes a defender and the ball then bounces from the defender over the goal line, the referee should award a corner throw because the team on defense last touched the ball.
Rule 20-18 Stalling
Situation: Only 35 seconds remained in a game. The goalkeeper held the ball for 19 seconds with all the field players from both teams in the offensive end of the pool. The goalkeeper swam up only to the 5-meter line before the coach called a time-out with 16 seconds remaining. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: It is the responsibility of the team on offense to advance the ball toward the offensive end; it is not necessary for the team to pass or shoot the ball. If there was no offensive player free for the goalkeeper to pass the ball to, the referee is not required to call stalling but might in the situation as described with that length of time. A defensive player could have dropped off an offensive player, forcing the goalkeeper to advance the ball or have stalling called.
Rule 20-18, Notes 2, 3 Stalling
Situation: The ball is in the offensive end of the field of play. The goalkeeper and one offensive player are in the defensive end. A player passes the ball back to the offensive player in the defensive end of the field of play. Should the referee allow play to continue or should the referee call stalling?
Ruling: The referee should allow play to continue. The referee should not call stalling for this pass since there are two players from the team on offense in the defensive end. However, if, for example, that player merely passes the ball back and forth with the goalkeeper, without attempting to advance the ball to the offensive end, the referee may call stalling. The referee must also take into consideration that the offensive team is not required to make a bad pass to advance the ball from the back court to the front court.

Rule 21: Exclusion Fouls
Rule 21 (General) Change in Calls When Ball is at Set
Question: The instructions to referees have changed since 2005-06 where the distributed instructions stated that “It is also correct to call an ordinary foul at set when the ball is on the perimeter and the two players are starting to get overly physical. This call can be thought of as a warning to the two players, and the next time an offensive foul or exclusion can be called.” The Points of Emphasis for 2006-07 and 2007-08 do not contain these two sentences. Why were they removed?
Answer: These two sentences were removed from the Points of Emphasis for several reasons:
1. This call is confusing to the team on offense. The players at set do not know that this is intended as a warning to them. The ball would be put in play on the periphery where the ball is, so the players would not know that the whistle was meant for the players at set. Even if they did look up at the referee, the referee would be pointing where the ball is to be put into play, which is on the periphery, not at set. In fact, if the referee did point at set to indicate that the players there are overly physical, the player on the periphery could think that this is where the ball is to be put into play and pass the ball there for the free throw.
2. The call takes away the advantage from the offense. Rule 7-3 states that the referees shall refrain from declaring a foul if, in their opinion, such declaration would be an advantage to the offending player’s team. If the play is overly physical at set, the referee should make the appropriate call there (an offensive foul or an exclusion foul or a double exclusion foul).
3. The direction commonly given to referees that a referee may call this a few times in a game as a warning is not appropriate as, if the action is a foul, it should be called. If it is not a foul, it should not be called. A coach should not have to warn players that this may be called a few times in a game so don’t be surprised.
Rule 21-2 Illegal Entry
Situation: An excluded player exited the field of play at the end of the pool approximately two yards from the re-entry area and swam under water to the re-entry area. The referee signaled for play to go in the other direction after a shot went out of bounds over the goal line (this signal being the signal for re-entry) just as that player (still under water) reached the re-entry area. The substitute for that player swam under the line marking the re-entry area into the pool before the head of the excluded player appeared above the surface of the water in the exclusion area. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should exclude the player for 20 seconds and turn the ball over because the head of the excluded player must appear in the re-entry area before either that player or a substitute for that player can re-enter the pool. The ball should be put into play at or behind the point nearest the infraction (at or behind the 2-yard/m line closest to the player’s re-entry area).
Rule 21-3 Substitution for an Excluded Goalkeeper During the Exclusion Period
Situation: A goalkeeper is excluded for 20 seconds. The team on offense immediately calls a time-out. May the team on defense during that time-out substitute a different goalkeeper (with a goalkeeper’s cap) into the goal for an exiting field player and another field player would take the place of the excluded goalkeeper in the re-entry area?
Ruling: No. The excluded goalkeeper is considered to be that team’s goalkeeper even though this player is in the re-entry area. If the team removes a field player, that player’s replacement must be another field player, not a goalkeeper in a goalkeeper’s cap. Any field player in the goal does not have the privileges of a goalkeeper.
Rule 21-4 and Rule 8-3 Leaving Field of Play to Retrieve a Ball
Situation: A player leaves the field of play behind a goal line to retrieve a ball without the permission of the referee. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should exclude the player for 20 seconds. A player is not allowed to leave the field of play to retrieve a ball outside the field of play without the permission of the referee.
Rule 21-5 Guarding a Shooter on a Direct Shot on Goal
Situation: A player is fouled at the 6-meter line. The player picks the ball up and attempts a direct shot on goal. How may a defender guard this player?
Ruling: There is no difference in how a player may guard a player who is attempting a direct shot on goal or a player who is attempting to pass. The guard may have only one arm up, which must be parallel with or behind the player’s head. The arm must be stationary, not following the arm of the shooter or waving at the shooter.
Rule 21-5 Guarding a Player Taking a Free Throw
Situation: A field player guarding a player who is taking a free throw has one arm raised behind the head but the body and arm are within inches of the offensive player. May the referee call interference with the free throw?
Ruling: Yes. There is no set distance the defensive player has to be away from the offensive player with his/her hand straight up or behind the head; the rule is that the defensive player can not interfere with the free throw. For example, the raised hand might be behind the head of the defensive player, but if that defending player is so close that the offensive player cannot make a throwing motion without hitting the defensive player, the defender has to back away or be called for interfering with the free throw. However, the offensive player may not unnecessarily lean or make some extraordinary arm motion into the defender to create this contact; that is, the free throw should be in a normal throwing motion.
Rule 21-5 Interference with Free Throw
Situation: A player is fouled inside the 5-meter line. Before the ball leaves the player’s hand, the defender puts up one hand towards the player or puts up one hand straight up while too close to the player. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee excludes the player for interfering with the free throw. Since the player has not released the ball, it is not important whether the player was attempting to shoot illegally or pass. The player’s actions are clearly interfering with a free throw.
Rule 21-5 Blocking the Direction of a Free Throw
Situation: A player puts up two hands to block the direction of a free throw. Should the referee exclude the player for 20 seconds?
Ruling: Yes. A player may not use two hands to block the direction of a free throw as this is regarded as interference with a free throw.
Rule 21-6, Rule 22-2 Use of Two Hands
Situation: A player put two hands up to show that the player is not fouling the attacking player. Should the referee allow this? Are there other examples where the use of two hands might be permissible?
Ruling: The player may put two arms up in this situation, on the perimeter, for example, but the player may not put up two hands or arms if the offensive player is attempting to shoot (or attempting a pass which could lead to a probable goal if inside the 5-meter area). In each of these cases the player must be prepared to immediately drop one hand if the situation changes. Note: It is usually relatively easy to distinguish between a defender who is trying to show he/she is not fouling as opposed to a defender raising both arms to block a shot or pass. If an offensive player with his/her back to the goal attempts to shoot, the defender who had raised two arms to show he/she was not fouling must immediately lower one arm. Impermissible use of two hands include the following: a player may not put up two hands to block or to attempt to block a shot outside the 5-meter area (exclusion foul); a player may not put up two hands to block or attempt to block a shot within the 5-meter area (penalty foul); a player may not put up two hands to block or attempt to block a pass to prevent a probable goal inside the 5-meter area (penalty foul); a player may not put up two hands while guarding a player taking a free throw (exclusion foul).
Rules 21-6, Use of Two Hands
Situation: A player raises two hands to block a possible shot outside the 5-meter area. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee excludes the player for 20 seconds. Rule 21-6 states that it is an exclusion foul to attempt to play or block a shot with two hands outside the 5-meter area. The player does not actually have to touch the ball and a shot does not have to be actually taken. The player is being punished for intent. This is true whether this situation occurs in an extra player situation or if it occurs when both teams are at full strength.
Rule 21-6 Use of Two Hands to Block a Pass
Situation: A player uses two hands to prevent a pass outside the 5m area. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee may not call an exclusion foul if a player outside the 5-meter area uses two hands to prevent a pass. The referee may call an exclusion foul only if the player uses two hands to attempt to block a shot in this area.
Rule 21-6, Rule 22-2 Use of Two Hands to Prevent a Direct Shot on Goal
Situation: A player put two hands up to prevent a direct shot on goal. What call should the referee make?
Ruling: The penalty depends on the location of the defender. It is an exclusion foul to attempt to block or to block a shot with two hands outside the 5-meter line and a penalty foul within the 5-meter line. It is the position of the defender that determines the penalty awarded.
Rule 21-7 Splashing Intentionally
Situation: A player inside the 5-meter line splashes a player outside the 5-meter line. What should the referee call?
Ruling: The referee should exclude the player for 20 seconds. The penalty awarded depends on the location of the face splashed, not on the location of the defender. In this case, the player on offense was outside the 5-meter line.
Rule 21-10 Misconduct
Situation: A player in a white cap sinks a player in a blue cap who has just scored a goal. The referee calls misconduct, excludes the white player and awards the ball to the blue team. Is this the correct call?
Ruling: No. This action occurred after a goal during what is commonly called “dead dead time” or interval time. If the referee feels that the action of the player in the white cap merits a misconduct call, the referee must exclude the player for the remainder of the game and the teams start even up with a free throw taken by the team in white caps as after a goal. If the referee feels the action was minor, the referee may warn the player but take no other action.
Rule 21-10 Position of Player with Three Personal Fouls or Misconduct
Situation: A player excluded from the remainder of the game for misconduct or for having three personal fouls leaves the team bench for the stands. Should the referee allow this?
Ruling: No. The player must remain on the team bench with cap on for the remainder of the game in the case of either misconduct or for being charged with three personal fouls. The player must leave the team bench if that player receives a red card or is excluded for brutality or fighting, but must then remain in the bleachers for the remainder of the game under direct supervision.
Rule 21-10 Misconduct After a Third Personal Foul, an Exclusion Foul
Situation: A player exits the field of play after receiving his/her third personal foul, an exclusion foul. On the way out, the player made disrespectful remarks to the referee. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should award a penalty foul because the excluded player committed disrespect on the way from the pool after the player’s third personal foul. The penalty throw is taken with the substitute in the exclusion area. The substitute may enter immediately if the penalty throw is scored or, if missed, enter after the earliest occurrence of an event referred to in Rule 21-3. In both this situation and the next one, it is essential that the exclusion secretary raise the red flag immediately upon the award of the foul to signify that this is the third personal foul, before the referee puts the ball into play.
Rule 21-10 Minor Act of Disrespect After a Third Personal Foul, an Exclusion Foul
Situation: A player exits the field of play after receiving his/her third personal foul, an exclusion foul. On the way out, the player makes some minor comments to the referee. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should award a penalty foul as the excluded player committed a minor act of disrespect on the way from the pool after the player’s third personal foul. The penalty throw is taken with the substitute in the exclusion area. The substitute may enter immediately if the penalty throw is scored or, if missed, enter after the earliest occurrence of an event referred to in Rule 21-3.
Rule 21-10 Minor Act of Disrespect After Second Personal Foul
Situation: A player commits a minor act of disrespect immediately after that player is charged with a penalty foul, the penalty foul being that player’s second personal foul. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: Since the minor act of disrespect made that player’s third personal foul, the referee removes the player for the remainder of the game and conducts the penalty throw with the substitute for that player in the exclusion area. If the penalty throw is scored, the substitute enters immediately. If it is missed, the substitute may not enter until the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3.
Rule 21-10 Disrespect Committed by a Player in the Exclusion Area
Situation: A player is excluded for the first time. After being in the exclusion area for several seconds, the player spoke to his/her coach on the bench, making a remark critical of the referee. What should be the action of the referee if he/she overhears this comment?
Ruling: Although the referee should not focus on discussions between the coach and players, if the referee does hear the remark and feels it is directed at him/her, the referee may award that player a second exclusion foul for the minor act of disrespect or may exclude the player for the remainder of the game for misconduct for showing disrespect to the referee. If the referee excludes the player for the remainder of the game, a substitute must replace that player in the exclusion area. In either case, the re-entry time of the excluded player is 20 seconds from the time of the second foul and the 35-second clock is reset.
Rule 21-10 Minor Act of Disrespect Turning Into Disrespect
Situation: A player commits an exclusion foul and then that player makes a few minor comments to the referee. However, the player’s comments escalate before the referee has blown the whistle to call the minor act of disrespect. What should the referee call?
Ruling: The referee should exclude the player for the remainder of the game for misconduct.
Rule 21-10 Taunting a Player
Situation: A player taunts a player. What should the referee call?
Ruling: The referee should exclude the player for the remainder of the game for misconduct. The referee may not call a minor act of disrespect as that call may only be made against a player directing minor comments to a referee.

Rule 21-10, Rule 21-2, rule 7-9-e Simultaneous Exclusion Foul and Misconduct Foul
Situation (Part I): The referee excludes white player cap #2 for 20 seconds. White player cap #3 starts to leave the field of play by mistake. The referee calls for the ball and signals to white player #3 that he/she was not excluded. The player, however, not understanding, splashes water which reaches the referee. The referee signals exclusion of that player from the remainder of the game for misconduct (disrespect) by rolling the arms (Appendix B, Figure F). How should the referee restart play?
Ruling: Player #2 (or substitute) and the substitute for player #3 should both be in the exclusion area and play should be resumed by the blue team with a 6 on 4. Even though the referee removed the ball from the field of play, the substitute for Player #3 may not start play at this time since Rule 21-10 only provides for this immediate substitution if the misconduct was committed during an interval between periods, a time-out (as defined in Rule 12), and prior to restart after a goal, no matter which team committed the foul. The act of a referee taking a ball out of the pool to clarify which player was excluded is not a time-out.
Situation, Part II: Should the referee have merely straightened out the situation in the previous question (an incorrect player leaving the field of play - Rules 21-2, 7-9-e) as opposed to exclusion of the player for the remainder of the game for misconduct?
Ruling: No, since the referee had determined that the act of splashing the referee constituted disrespect (misconduct). The rule regarding the referee stopping play, correcting the situation, and resetting the clocks assumes that the player leaving by mistake does not commit misconduct.
Situation, Part III: Could player #3 have been excluded for a minor act of disrespect for making a minor gesture to the referee?
Ruling: The referee has the sole power to determine if this act of disrespect was minor or major. The referee should have restarted play in either case with a 6 on 4.
Situation, Part IV: If the referee had determined that the splashing in this instance was a minor act of disrespect, should the referee have awarded a penalty shot?
Ruling: No. A penalty shot is awarded only if the same player commits a minor act of disrespect on the way out from the pool immediately after receiving the third personal foul.
Rule 21-10-c Personal Fouls Committed During and After a Penalty Throw
Situation: A 5-meter penalty is awarded to the blue team. After several warnings to an offensive and a defensive player concerning their positions and actions prior to the penalty shot, the referee excluded both players for the remainder of the game for misconduct prior to the penalty shot. The penalty shot was then taken with the substitutes for these players in the exclusion areas. The penalty shot was scored and the substitutes entered the pool. Prior to putting the ball into play, the goalkeeper of the white team was then excluded from the remainder of the game for misconduct. How should the referee restart play?
Ruling: The white team must substitute another goalkeeper (with the privileges of a goalkeeper) for the goalkeeper who was excluded. The referee should start play with the teams even up with the white team putting the ball into play as after a goal.
Rule 21-11 Brutality in Dead Time
Situation: A player with a white cap was excluded. During the dead-time, while the referee was removing the player and communicating this information to the scoring table, a player on the blue team committed an act of brutality. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee should take the ball from the water, remove the player who committed the act of brutality from the remainder of the game, and allow the excluded white player to enter (as there was a change of possession due to the call of brutality). The referee should then conduct the dead-time penalty throw. The team with the white caps will get the ball back, whether the penalty shot was made or missed, with the substitute for the player who committed brutality still in the exclusion area for 20 seconds or until the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3.
Rule 21-11 Double Brutality Committed During Dead Time
Situation: A player commits an act of brutality during dead time. In retaliation, a player of the opposing team then hits that player. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: Since the two acts of brutality both occurred during the same dead time, the referee should remove both players for the remainder of the game and a dead-time penalty throw is awarded to each team. The penalty throws are taken with the substitutes in the exclusion areas. The first penalty throw is taken by the team that was in possession of the ball at the time of the stoppage. After the second penalty throw has been taken (made or missed), the game is restarted by the team that last had possession of the ball taking a free throw as after a time-out at or behind the half distance line with the substitutes for the excluded players still in the re-entry areas. The substitutes may not enter until the earliest occurrence of one of the events described in Rule 21-3.
Rule 21-11 Double Brutality Between Periods
Situation: A double brutality foul (one player from each team) occurs between periods. What is the penalty for this offense?
Ruling: The offending players are removed for the remainder of the game, with their substitutes in the re-entry areas, and the next period begins with a sprint. After one team gains possession, the referee stops the game and awards a dead-time penalty throw to the team that gained possession of the ball on the sprint. This results in a goal or no goal. The second penalty throw, taken by the team on defense, results in a goal or no goal. After the second penalty throw has been taken, The referee will then award a free throw on or behind the half distance line to the team that gained possession on the sprint as after a time-out. The substitutes may not enter until the earliest occurrence of one of the events described in Rule 21-3.
Rule 21-11 Double Brutality During a Time-out or After a Goal
Situation: A double brutality foul is called during a time-out or after a goal. How does the referee conduct the penalty throws and restart the game?
Ruling: The offending players are removed for the remainder of the game, with their substitutes in the re-entry areas. The first dead-time penalty throw is taken by the team that would normally have possession (the team which called the time-out or was in possession of the ball at the time a time-out was called by the defense or by the team on which the goal was scored). This results in a goal or no goal. The second team then takes a dead-time penalty throw. This results in a goal or no goal. The referee will then award a free throw on or behind the half distance line as after a time-out to the team that would normally have had possession after the time-out or after the goal. The substitutes may not enter until the earliest occurrence of one of the events described in Rule 21-3.
Rule 21-15 Early Entry of an Excluded Player
Situation: An excluded player re-enters the pool early. Should the referee award a penalty throw and exclude the player from the remainder of the game?
Ruling: No. If a player on the defensive team enters improperly, the player is excluded for an additional 20 seconds and a penalty throw awarded to the attacking team. If a player on the offensive team enters improperly, the player is excluded for an additional 20 seconds and a free throw awarded to the opposing team. Rule 22-6 refers to a player not entitled under the rules to participate (an extra player or a player who has received a third personal foul or who has been excluded for the remainder of the game, as described in Rule 5-1). In this case, the player is excluded for the remainder of the game and a penalty throw is awarded.
Rule 21-16 Interference with Penalty Throw
Situation: Immediately after the referee blows the whistle for the taking of the penalty throw, the player on the right side of the shooter hits the shooter’s arm before the shooter releases the ball. The penalty shot did not score. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: It is a penalty foul for a person to interfere with the taking of a penalty throw, either if this interference occurs before the referee blows the whistle or after the referee blows the whistle but before the shooter releases the ball. It is considered interference if a defensive player on the side of the shooter moves towards the shooter or hits the player’s arm before the shooter releases the ball. The defensive players may move forward towards the goal after the whistle, before the shooter releases the ball, but not towards the shooter. It is also considered interference if a defender takes other actions towards the shooter such as shouting, splashing or whistling at the shooter. The offending player is excluded for the remainder of the game with the substitute in the re-entry area, and the penalty shot is retaken. If this penalty shot is scored, the substitute enters immediately. If the shot is missed, the substitute may not enter until after the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3.
Rule 21-16 Interference with Penalty Shot
Situation: If the player who was interfered with scored the original penalty shot, what should the referee call?
Ruling: The penalty shot counts and the substitute enters immediately. The player who interfered with the penalty shot is excluded for the remainder of the game.
Rule 21-17 Goalkeeper Failure to Take Position on Goal Line
Situation: During the administration of a penalty throw, the goalkeeper comes forward before the shot is administered. What should the referee do?
Ruling: The referee should warn the goalkeeper. If the goalkeeper fails to take up the correct position on the goal line after having been warned once by the referee, the referee should then exclude the goalkeeper for 20 seconds. Another defending player may take the position of the goalkeeper but without the goalkeeper’s privileges or limitations.

Rule 22: Penalty Fouls
Rule 22-2-b Two-Hand Shot Block Inside 5-Meter Line
Situation: A player within the 5-meter area puts up two hands in an attempt to block a shot. The referee blows a whistle for the foul when the ball is in the air. The shot goes out of bounds over the goal line, untouched by any player. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: The referee awards a penalty foul. The defending player does not have to touch the ball nor does a shot have to be taken. The player is being punished for intent.
Rule 22-2-b Two-Hand Shot Block Inside 5-Meter Line
Situation: A player within the 5-meter area puts up two hands in an attempt to block a shot. The referee blows a whistle for the foul when the ball is in the air. The ball goes into the goal, untouched by any player. What should be the award of the referee?
Ruling: The referee awards a penalty foul and does not count the goal. The goal does not count because the ball was in flight towards the goal when the referee blew the whistle for a foul (Rule 14-6-a).
Rule 22-2-b Two Hand Shot Block Inside 5-Meter Line
Situation: A player within the 5-meter area puts up two hands in an attempt to block a shot. The ball goes into the goal, untouched by any player. The referee blows the whistle for the foul. Should the referee count the goal? Should the referee award a penalty foul?
Ruling: Since the goal scored, the goal counts and the referee should not award the penalty foul against the player who put up two hands.
Rule 22-2-c Two-Hand Block of a Pass Inside 5-Meter Line
Situation: A player within the 5-meter area puts up two hands to block or to attempt to block a pass. What action should the referee take?
Ruling: It is a penalty foul for a defending player to commit any foul within the 5-meter area but for which a goal would probably have resulted. Therefore, if the defending player intentionally blocks or attempts to block a pass with two hands which prevents a probable goal, a penalty foul is awarded. It is not a penalty foul if the ball is being passed to a player who is in such a position that the pass would not have led to a probable goal. In addition, the defending player does not have to touch the ball nor does a pass have to be thrown. The player is being punished for intent.
Rule 22-8 Penalty Foul in the Last Minute
Situation: A penalty foul is awarded in the last minute. The coach does not signal to the referee if the coach wants to take a penalty throw or to keep the ball. Should the referee conduct the penalty throw?
Ruling: Even though it is the responsibility of the coach to give a clear signal without delay (Appendix B, Figure Z) if the team wishes to maintain possession of the ball or by showing five fingers to request a penalty throw, the referee must take the ball from the pool. If the coach did not give a clear signal as to his/her preference, the referee must verify the decision of the coach and then restart play either with the penalty throw or by the team on offense restarting play by taking a free throw on or behind the half distance line as after a time-out. The possession clock is reset.
Rules 22-8 and Rule 21-11 Brutality Foul in the Last Minute
Situation: An act of brutality is committed by a player on the white team in the last minute of the game. The blue team is ahead by one goal. Should the referee ask the coach of the blue team if he/she prefers to take the penalty throw or to maintain possession of the ball?
Ruling: Yes. By the rule the referee must ask the coach his/her preference although here there is no advantage to be gained by the coach declining to take the penalty throw and keeping the ball. This is because the penalty throw awarded for brutality is a dead-time penalty throw, with the substitute out for 20 seconds or until the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3. The team retains possession of the ball, whether the shot is made or missed, restarting play as after a time-out. The possession clock shall be reset.
Rules 22-8 and 21-11 Simultaneous Brutality During the Last Minute of the Game or During the Last Minute of Overtime
Situation: Simultaneous brutality is committed by a player of each team during the last minute of the game, during the last minute of overtime, or at any time during sudden-victory overtime. What should be the action of the referee?
Ruling: If simultaneous brutality by players of both teams occurs during the time frame described, the referee must remove both players for the remainder of the game, with their substitutes in the re-entry areas. The coach whose team was in possession of the ball will decide whether each team will shoot a penalty shot or whether the team in possession of the ball will maintain possession of the ball and be awarded a free throw at or behind half as after a time-out. The substitutes are out for 20 seconds or until the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3 whether the penalty shots are made or missed.

Rule 23: Penalty Throws
Rule 23-2 Penalty Throw
Situation: The goalkeeper is excluded and, on the way out, interferes with play, resulting in the award of a penalty throw. A field player takes the place of the goalkeeper in the goal with the goalkeeper in the exclusion area during the taking of the penalty throw. The field player comes forward with both hands outstretched to the side in an attempt to block the penalty throw. The player blocks the penalty throw with one hand out of bounds over the goal line. What should the referee call?
Ruling: The referee should call a penalty foul against that player because the field player in the goal does not have the privileges of a goalkeeper. That field player may not have both hands outstretched in an attempt to block the penalty shot. The player must have one arm down (Rule 22-2-b).
Rule 23-2 Penalty Throw
Situation: On the penalty throw described in the above situation, the defensive field player in the goal raises only one arm and blocked the ball with one hand out of bounds over the goal line. What throw should the referee award?
Ruling: The referee should award a goal throw because the player in the goal is a field player, not a goalkeeper (Rule 16-1). The defensive field player in the goal may take the goal throw (Rule 16-2).
Rule 23-3 Position of Referee Administering the Penalty Throw
Situation: The referee administers a penalty throw while standing on the goal line. Should this be allowed?
Ruling: This is acceptable as there is no particular point specified in the rules for the referee to administer the penalty throw. This lack of specificity in designating the position of the referee when the whistle is blown allows the referee controlling the taking of the throw to determine the most advantageous position for that referee to watch the shooter, the defensive players and the goalkeeper.
Rule 23-3 Role of the Back Court Referee in a Penalty Throw
Situation: The front court referee prepared to administer a penalty throw. The back court referee took a position farther behind in the back court. The front court referee raised the arm to administer the penalty throw, blew the whistle and lowered the arm. At the same time, the back court referee blew a whistle to indicate interference. The player shot and scored the penalty shot. Should the goal be allowed?
Ruling: Yes. The front court referee, the referee controlling the throw, is responsible for lining up the players. The back court referee should not blow a whistle during the administration of the penalty throw. Since the whistles were simultaneous, the goal counts and no interference was called.
Rule 23-4 Method of Taking the Penalty Throw
Situation: A penalty throw is awarded. The player picks up the ball with the left hand and immediately transfers the ball to the right hand and then waits for the referee’s signal for the penalty throw. The penalty shot scores. Should the referee count the goal?
Ruling: Yes. If the player transfers the ball to the right hand before the referee signals for the throw, there is no violation of the rule that the player shall immediately throw the ball with an uninterrupted movement directly at the goal. If the player transfers the ball from one hand to the other after the referee signals for the penalty throw to be taken, then the throw will be disallowed and the ball turned over (Rule 23-4, Rule 20-13). There is no rule specifying the speed at which the ball must travel to the goal. The shooter may lob the ball, for example, provided that the shot is taken without delay.

Rule 25: Accident, Injury and Illness
Rule 25-1 Leaving the Field of Play
Situation: The referee stops play for an injury, malfunctioning equipment or to replace a cap. May the players hang on the side of the field of play in a pool without sidelines or move under the sideline to hang onto the pool wall?
Ruling: The referee must indicate to the players if they can hang on the side of the pool or if they must remain within the field of play. The referee usually requires the players to remain within the field of play in the case of a cap off or missing or for resetting a clock. If there is a lengthy equipment malfunction, the referee may indicate that the players may move to their bench. Otherwise, players should not leave the field of play nor hang on the sidelines, etc., without the referee’s permission.
Appendix A: Instructions for the Use of Two Referees
Appendix A-18 Award of Goal Throw Versus Corner Throw
Situation: A shot is taken and missed. The back court referee signals for a corner throw, the front court referee signals for a goal throw. Which call takes precedence?
Ruling: The signal for the corner throw takes precedence over that for a goal throw. If the goal throw was awarded by mistake, the referees should confer and reverse the decision, awarding a corner throw.
Appendix B: Signals to be Used by Officials
Appendix B-F, G, CC Referee Signals for Exclusion Fouls
Situation: The referee needs to distinguish between the fouls of brutality, misconduct, and a minor act of disrespect because of differing penalties. What signals should the referee use?
Ruling: The referee crosses the arms down across the abdomen for brutality (Fig. G), rotates both hands round one another for exclusion from the remainder of the game (usually for misconduct) (Fig. F) and makes a rolling motion with one arm instead of two arms for a minor act of disrespect (Fig. CC). This is commonly referred to as a “half rolling motion”. In addition the referee must notify the scoring table verbally of these fouls and the scorekeeper must record the nature of the foul (for example E-brutality, E-misconduct, or E-MAD).