Note: The Peninsula Referees Association will interpret these rule changes and prepare a supplement for all PRA referees to follow in 2007.

Changes to National Federation Water Polo Rules for 2007 (7-6-07)
(References are to Rules and Page Numbers in the 2006-07 NFHS Rule Book)
(9 pages of printable rule changes)

1. Pool Markers. (Rule 1-6, page 87)—If long, horizontal markers are used on the pool deck, the white marker shall be .3 meters in length and extend from the end line to the goal line; the red marker shall be 2 yards (2.0m) in length and extend from the goal line to the 2-yard (2.0m) mark; the yellow marker shall be 3 meters in length or of such length that it extends from the 2 yard (2.0m) mark to the 5-meter mark.
If the sides of the field of play are marked or if side lines are used, the sides of the field of play from the end line to the goal line shall be marked in white, from the goal line to the 2 yards (2.0m) line shall be marked in red, from the 2 yards (2.0m) line to the 5-meter line shall be marked in yellow and from the 5-meter line to the half distance line shall be marked in green or a color other than yellow or red. The half distance mark on the side lines and on the pool deck shall be white. Any markings on colored tile shall be the same color as the markings on the side lines and/or deck markers.
If cones are used on the pool deck, comes shall be placed on the goal line, 2-yard (2.0m) line, 5-meter line, and half distance line and shall be colored white, red, yellow, and white, respectively. They shall be of adequate size and weight so that they are visible and remain at the correct location. The distances between cones shall be measured from the center of one cone to the center of the next cone.
The requirement for the correct marking of the pool course is effective July 1, 2007.
Rationale: This describes in more detail the pool marker system that was recently instituted, part effective for the 2006-07 season and the remainder instituted for the 2007-08 season.
2. Balls. (Rule 3-5, page 88)—Five game-quality balls must be available for all championship games and are recommended for all games. If there are goal judges, one ball shall be with the referee and at least two with each goal judge. If there are not goal judges, one ball shall be with the referee and two at each bench. If a ball goes out of bounds over the end line, the coach must have a team member from the bench immediately retrieve the ball. If the coach does not do this, the referee shall warn the coach and, at the next occurrence, give the coach a yellow card. A player in the field of play may retrieve the ball only if the player does not have to leave the field of play or with the permission of the referee. The use of goal judges is encouraged.
Rationale: This rule change will ensure that balls will be available for play. Appropriate changes will need to be made in Rule 8-3, page 98.
3. Goalkeeper Swim Cap (Rule 4-5, page 90)—The swim cap worn by a goalkeeper may be red or a color which matches the color of the water polo cap of the goalkeeper as closely as possible (that is., red or dark for the home goalkeeper, red or white for the visiting goalkeeper).
Rationale: Since the goalkeeper caps must be paneled (red and dark or red and white), this change means that a team may use swim caps of one color (all dark or all white).
4. Position of Coach after Goal (Rule 5-2, page 91)— The head coach may advance along the pool side when making substitutions after a goal has been scored and must return to the correct position (either behind the goal line if on defense or behind the 5-meter line if on offense) before play is restarted.
Rationale: Although this is the current practice, it was not described in the rules.
5. Shallow-Deep Pool (Rule 5-2, page 91)—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.
Rationale: This provides an objective standard for determining if the water polo course is classified as shallow-deep. If it is so classified and one coach requests to change ends each period, the referees shall change sides before the second period, the fourth period, before the first period of overtime, and before the first sudden-victory overtime period.
6. Addition of Items to List of Articles That May Cause Injury (Rule 5-4, page 92)—Before taking part in a game, players shall remove any articles likely to cause injury, including, but not limited to, the following: jewelry, watches, sport or prescription swim goggles, protective helmets and sharp fingernails or toenails.
Rationale: These items were already included here or in other parts of the Rules or in interpretations, but are now listed in one place in the rules.
7. Addition of Procedure for Handling Unzipped or Broken Suit Zipper-(Rule 5-4, page 92)—Interpretation: A zipper which is not fully zipped or is broken is regarded as an article likely to cause injury to either that player or to another player. If the zipper becomes unzipped, 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, just as in the cap replacement rule (Rule 4-1). If the zipper can not be fixed, the referee must remove the player, allow the immediate entrance of a substitute, and the original player may be substituted in later after the problem is corrected. No foul is charged to that player.
Rationale: This includes the procedures for handling zipper problems in the Rules.
8. Pregame Meeting and Substances on Body (Rule 5-5, page 92)—The referee shall make arrangements at this time with the coach to inspect all players for articles likely to cause injury, such as toenails and fingernails that are sharp/dangerous, goggles and jewelry, for oil and grease or similar substances on the ball/body, and the color of the swim cap.
Rationale: Goggles have been added to the list of articles which may cause injury.
9. Observers, Desk Officials (Rule 6-1, page 93)—All desk officials and observers must act in a neutral, professional manner during the game.
Rationale: This change is needed to improve the quality of the desk.
10. Red Cards (Rule 7-4, page 95)—Red cards may be issued to individual players on the bench. Red cards are usually not issued to players in the water, unless otherwise specified in the rules. Interpretation: Exclusion from the game for misconduct is the typical penalty for disruptive behavior of a player in the water who is still eligible to play.
Rationale: A red card may be issued to the head coach, to assistant coaches, to other team officials on the bench and to individual players on the bench. The intent is that a red card is usually not issued to players in the water during the game. Exclusion from the game for misconduct is the typical penalty for disruptive behavior of a player in the water who is still eligible to play.
11. Removal from Pool Area (Rule 7-5, page 96)—If a referee removes a player, substitute, coach, other team official, or spectator whose behavior prevents the referees from carrying out their duties from the precincts of the pool, the referee will also award a red card to that individual (with the exception of a disruptive spectator). Any player removed under this rule must remain in the bleachers under supervision. NOTE: The host institution shall take the appropriate action with regard to the disruptive spectator.
Rationale: This change ensures that a red card is issued for this serious offense, that the incident is reportable and that the individual is suspended from the next traditional season game, in addition to removal from the premises. In the current Rules no red card is listed as issued in this situation.
12. Referee Reporting Responsibility (Rule 7-7, page 96)—The referees shall report conduct that requires a game suspension (brutality, fighting, issuance of a red card, etc.), as well as issues related to the field of play, nonconforming caps, abandonment of game, forfeit of game, etc., committed by a competing institution, to the conference (league) offices or state association, as appropriate, and to the assigning authority. NOTE: Each state association may establish its requirements for reporting. NOTE: The conference shall report these violations, including issues with field of play and non-conforming caps, to the high school athletic director or appropriate institutional designee or to the tournament host administrator.
Rationale: This ensures that all events which require a game suspension will be reported. The list of reportable offenses may vary from association to association, particularly with regard to misconduct. In addition, it provides for issues with the water polo course and caps to be reported to the athletic director of the institution.
13. Checking and Signing Scoresheet (Rule 7-8, page 96)—Note: it is also recommended that one of the referees check the score sheet after each period, particularly for scores and number of time-outs taken.
Rationale: This should be done in order to discover any errors in a timely manner.
14. Correctable Errors (Rule 7-9, page 97)—Note: If several errors are made at once, the referees must determine to the best of their ability which error(s) shall be corrected in the interest of fairness.
Rationale: This addition gives the referees the authority to determine which error to correct, if multiple errors occur.
15. Error in Time of Signal for Re-entry of Excluded Player (Rule 7-9-b, page 97)—The error in the time of the signal for the entry of an excluded player must be of such magnitude that it affects play. The referee has the authority to determine if the error was significant.
Rationale: This note is needed to emphasize that every small timing error (such as raising a reentry flag one second late) will not be reversed and a goal removed.
16. Example of Correctable Error During an Extraman Situation (Rule 7-9-k, page 97)—An additional example of a correctable error is added: During an extraman situation, if a warmup ball enters play, if a goal becomes unfastened and moves, if the game is stopped for lightning or malfunction of a game clock or if any similar event occurs which affects play, the game shall be stopped. The game clock shall be reset to the time of the exclusion and the shot clock reset.
Rationale: This type of incident should not affect the outcome of the extraman situation.
17. Protests (Rule 7-10, page 98)—A protest may be filed during a game and at any time up to five minutes after the conclusion of the game. If the event is not protested at the time it occurs during the game, it may still be protested at the conclusion of the game, within the time limits described in the rule. Examples are included of misapplication of rules and of judgment calls.
Rationale: Settling a protest at the time of the disputed event could be beneficial as this would prevent replaying the game from the time of the event protested. Although protests can be filed during a game at the present time, the language in the current rules was not clear. The examples included will assist the referee to determine if an event is protestable or not.
18. Recording Minor Act of Disrespect on Score Sheet (Rule 10-1-d, page 100)—The scorekeeper must note on the score sheet E-MAD for the exclusion foul of a minor act of disrespect.
Rationale: This symbol is to distinguish between the fouls of disrespect and a minor act of disrespect. A minor act of disrespect is not a game exclusion.
19. Tournament Variations (Rule 11-5, p. 102): The number and duration of timeouts in a tournament may be varied provided that teams are notified in advance of any special tournament rules. For example, the host may decide to have a 20-second time-out replace a regular time-out. Only the team on offense or the team that will be on offense (after a goal was scored by the other team) may call a 20-second time-out. To signal a 20-second time-out, the coach calls “time-out” and touches both shoulders. The teams do not move to their half of the pool for this time-out.
Rationale: This includes another variation in the type of time-out that can be called during a tournament.
20. Position of Ball During a Time-out (Rule 12-1, page 102)—Note: The ball is removed from the field of play during the time-out by the defensive referee, but either referee may perform this task.
Rationale: Although this is the current practice, it was not previously described.
21. Shortening a Time-out (Rule 12-2, page 103)—Interpretation: The referee may not shorten a time-out unless instructed by the team calling the time-out. At that time the referee must give the warning whistle and also verbally inform the other team that play will restart in 15 seconds.
Rationale: Currently referees often stop a time-out when the players on the team calling the time-out swim out to their positions, even though that team did not inform the referee that it is shortening the time-out. This change will ensure that the team which did not call the time-out will have adequate notice of the termination of the time-out.
22 Offensive Team-Additional Time-out (Rule 12-4, page 104)—If the coach of the team in possession of the ball requests a time-out to which the team is not entitled, the game shall be stopped and play shall then be restarted by a player of the opposing team putting the ball in play at or behind the half distance line as after a time-out.
Rationale: Although this is the current practice, it was not described in the rules.
23. Position of Players After Time-out (Rule 12-6, page 104)—Before the time-out warning signal, the players must stay on their side of half. After the time-out warning signal, players may take any position in the field of play, subject to the rules relating to the taking of penalty throws and corner throws.
Rationale: Although this is the current practice, it was not specified in the Rules.
24. Referee Signal for 5-meter line (Rule 14-3, page 105)—Note: The referee shall not use any signal, such as raising an arm or showing five fingers, to indicate that a player is eligible to shoot a direct shot after that player’s team has been awarded a free throw for a foul committed outside 5 meters.
Rationale: The markings on the deck and on the sidelines plainly indicate the 5-meter line. If the referee were to use an arm signal this would be an advantage to the shooter as it is a signal to that player that he/she is eligible to take a direct shot. Additional examples are provided of how a player may take a direct shot on goal as well as actions of the defending player which are not permitted in the Rules.
25. Possession Time (Rule 20-17, page 113): No change was recommended in the possession time for 2007-08.
Rationale: It was recommended that the shot clock remain at 35 seconds for another year as teams in some areas of the country, due to a difference in the dates of the water polo season, had not yet played under the rules which were changed for this year.
26. Wasting Time (Rule 20-18, page 113)—If the goalkeeper is the only player of that team in the goalkeeper’s half of the field of play, it shall be deemed wasting time for the goalkeeper to receive the ball from another member of the goalkeeper’s team who is in the other half of the field of play. However, the ball may be passed to the goalkeeper if other players from the offensive team are in the back court, but the team must still work to advance the ball from the back court to the front court. Note: 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. The team is not required to make a bad pass to advance the ball from the back court to the front court.
Rationale: This change clarifies that a team on offense may pass to its goalkeeper in this situation, but it still requires that a team must advance the ball in order to prevent a wasting time call.
27. Substitution for an Excluded Player (Rule 21-3, page 116)—Change interpretation in middle of page to the following: A team which has seven or more players eligible to participate in the game (any player awaiting re-entry after an exclusion is considered eligible to participate) must play with a goalkeeper unless the goalkeeper has been excluded and is in the re-entry area. Therefore, an excluded goalkeeper’s substitute may only be another goalkeeper; an excluded field player’s substitute may only be another field player. As a result, if a goalkeeper is excluded, a substitute wearing a goalkeeper’s cap may not be substituted for an exiting field player during that exclusion period.
Rationale: This change was made to align with the International interpretation.
28. Leaving the Field of Play to Retrieve a Ball (Rule 21-4, page 116)—It is an exclusion foul if a player leaves the field of play to retrieve a ball without the permission of the referee.
Rationale: This clarifies that the referee excludes a player for 20 seconds for this offense.
29. Description of Interference with Free Throw and Actions of Passer Which are not Allowed (Rule 21-5, page 116)—Interpretation: The defensive player cannot interfere with the free throw. If the defending player, with hand raised behind the head, is so close that the offensive player cannot make a throwing motion without hitting the defensive player, the defender has to back up 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 a normal throwing motion.
Rationale: The interpretation describes actions not permitted by the shooter or defender.
30. Permissible Use of Two Hands (Rule 21-6, page 117)—An interpretation was added: A player may put two hands up to show that the player is not fouling the attacking player. However, the player must immediately lower one hand if the player attempts to shoot (or attempts to pass which could lead to a probable goal if inside the 5-meter area). A player may put up two hands to show he/she is not fouling or if guarding a player who is in no position to shoot, but must be prepared to immediately drop one hand if the situation changes.
Rationale: This describes allowable use of two hands.
31. Misconduct (rule 21-10, page 119)—If a player commits the foul of misconduct (disrespect) while exiting the pool after committing that player’s third personal foul, the player is removed for the remainder of the game for disrespect, the substitute may not enter for 20 seconds, and a penalty throw is awarded. The substitute enters immediately if the penalty throw is scored.
Rationale: No penalty for committing this offense of misconduct, particularly disrespect to a referee, after a third foul is currently described in the rules. Referees have been awarding a variety of penalties for the offense committed at this time ranging from ignoring it to a warning to a penalty throw to a red card. This standardizes the penalty for the player who commits misconduct (disrespect) after a third personal foul.
32. Minor Act of Disrespect (Rule 21-10, page 119)—Maintain the foul of a minor act of disrespect but change the penalty as follows: An exclusion foul with a 20-second period of exclusion will be awarded for minors acts of disrespect that are not sufficient to warrant exclusion for the remainder of the game. If the player commits a minor act of disrespect immediately after receiving an exclusion foul, the player is excluded for 20 seconds or until the earliest occurrence of an event referred to in Rule 21-3, and an additional personal foul is awarded. If the minor act of disrespect is committed on that player’s way out after committing a second exclusion foul, the player is awarded another exclusion foul, which makes that player’s third personal foul. The substitute enters after 20 seconds or the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3. If the player commits a minor act of disrespect on the way out after committing a third personal foul which is an exclusion foul, a penalty throw is awarded. The substitute may not enter until after the earliest occurrence of an event referred to in Rule 21-3. If a player commits a minor act of disrespect immediately after committing a third personal foul which is a penalty foul, an additional penalty foul is awarded. The first penalty shot is a dead-time penalty shot. The substitute enters if either penalty shot is scored. Interpretation: A player commits a minor act of disrespect immediately after that player is charged with a penalty foul, that player’s first personal foul. The player is charged with an additional foul (an exclusion foul), is excluded for 20 seconds or until the earliest occurrence of an event described in Rule 21-3 and the penalty throw is taken.
Rationale: This change eliminates the inequity where the penalty for a minor act of disrespect may be greater than the penalty for an act of disrespect, even though the latter is the more severe foul. This change also standardizes the penalty for committing either disrespect or a minor act of disrespect after a third personal foul.
33. Blocking a Pass Within the 5-meter Area (Rule 22-2-c, page 124)—Interpretation: 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 within the 5-meter area which prevents a probable goal with two hands, a penalty foul is awarded. It is not a penalty foul if the ball is being passed to a player who was in such a position that the pass would not have led to a probable goal.
Rationale: This clarifies when a player can attempt to block a pass within the 5-meter area.
34. Award of Penalty Throw in Last Minute (Rule 22-8, page 125)—NOTE: It is the responsibility of the coach to give a clear signal (by crossing the arms up across the chest (Appendix B, Figure.Z) if the team wishes to maintain possession of the ball or by showing five fingers to request a penalty throw, without delay. The referee must take the ball from the pool, verify the decision of the coach if no clear signal is given, 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. Players may take any position in the pool for the taking of the free throw. Interpretations are also added stating that substitutions are not permitted during this temporary stoppage (unless a timeout is called) and that the team on offense may not take a direct shot on goal if the penalty throw is declined.
Rationale: This clarifies that the referee must ask the coach if the coach does not give a clear signal in this situation.
35. Referee Signal for Penalty Throw (Rule 23-3, page 126)—When the referee controlling the taking of the throw is satisfied that the field players and the goalkeeper are in their correct positions, the referee shall signal for the throw to be taken, by whistle and by simultaneously lowering the arm from a vertical to a horizontal position. NOTE: 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 watching the shooter, the defensive players and the goalkeeper. The other referee will watch the back court.
Rationale: This description enables the referee to determine the optimum position for the referee to administer the penalty throw.
36. Method of Taking Penalty Throw (Rule 23-4, page 126)—The defensive players may not interfere with the taking of the penalty throw (shout, whistle, splash, hit the shooter’s arm, etc.) before the time the ball leaves the hand of the shooter. When the whistle is blown, the defensive players on each side of the shooter may only move forward towards the goal, not towards the shooter. After the ball is released, the defensive players may move towards the shooter. The shooter may not move inside the 5-meter line until the ball leaves the hand.
Rationale: This interpretation defines interference with the free throw and specifies that the shooter may not move forward until the ball leaves his/her hand.
37. Five-Meter Determination (Appendix A-19, page 131)—The referee who calls a foul should determine if that foul is inside or outside the 5-meter line in order to determine whether a direct shot on goal can be taken. The back court referee has the primary responsibility to determine if the shot is taken correctly (without delay and behind the 5-meter line).
Rationale: The responsibility of the back court referee was not previously covered.
38. Signal by Coach to Request Free Throw instead of Penalty Throw (Appendix B, Fig. Z, page 134)—By a coach in the last minute of the game or the last minute of overtime to request a free throw and to maintain possession of the ball instead of taking the penalty throw awarded. The coach crosses both arms up across the chest. If the coach decides to request the penalty foul, the coach raises an arm with five fingers in the air.
Rationale: This figure was not included in the previous year’s rule book.
39. Cap Number Signals (App. B-Fig. AA, page 134)—For numbers 11-15, one hand is shown as a clenched fist with the other hand showing additional fingers to make up the sum of the player’s number. For cap numbers 16 though 19, the referee holds up one clenched fist. With the other hand, the referee first holds up first five fingers and then raises the other digits as necessary for the cap numbers.. The referee must also call out the cap number to the players in the field and to the scoring table. Note: the referee shows the higher number of fingers on the right hand. For example, to show number 16, the referee will clench the right fist and then show 5 fingers with the left hand, followed by the thumb of the left hand.
Rationale: New signals are needed for numbers 16-19 as these are commonly used numbers and the referees, although required to do so, often do not call out the numbers to the scoring table. In order to standardize the signals, the higher number should be shown on the right hand.
40. Cap Number Signals (App. B, Fig. BB, page 134)—To indicate cap number 20, the referee raises and clenches both fists. To indicate cap numbers above 20, the referee will clench both fists and then raise the correct number of fingers on one hand to indicate cap numbers 21-25 (or uses two hands if the cap number is above 25). The referee must also call out the cap number to the players in the field and to the scoring table.
Rationale: New signals are needed for cap numbers above 20 as the referees currently do not use a standard method of indicating these and the referees, although required to do so, often do not call out the numbers to the scoring table.
41. Signal for a Minor Act of Disrespect (App. B, new Fig. CC, page 134)—The referee uses a half rolling motion with one arm so that it is visible to the other players, coaches and scoring table. The referee must signal the offending player’s cap number to the players in the water and to the scoring table. After the ball is put in ball, the referee must also call out the cap color and number and the nature of the offense (minor act of disrespect) to the scoring table.
Rationale: The addition of this signal will make it clear to the desk, players and coach that the player is excluded for 20 seconds for this minor act of disrespect instead of for the remainder of the game for disrespect.