SCAF WATER POLO
High School Officials Instruction
2024-2025
Clinic #1
Welcome from the SCAF Instructional Chair
Welcome back to another High School Water Polo season. As we move forward into the season please take the time to review your rule book and carefully read through the rules test prior to the beginning of your first assignment.
If you have any questions regarding any of the clinic materials or questions on the test, feel free to reach out to either your area instructional chair or myself.
Thank you,
Shawn McBride - mcbride_s@auhsd.us
Welcome from the SCAF Foothill Instructional Chair
Terry Kimberling - terrykimberling@gmail.com
Please email me any questions you have at the above address. If you have questions that need immediate attention, please text or call me at 909-519-8092 or contact any of the other Board Members. We are in the business of educating water polo officials and no questions should be unasked for any reason. Don’t be shy!
NFHS Rules Test
2024-26 Rule Changes
2024-26 Rule Changes (cont.)
1-16: Ball Description
Removed the color restriction for the ball requiring yellow or gold. The ball must be of a color that contrasts with the colors of the players’ caps and is clearly and safely visible.
Rational: The change gives a team the ability to choose a ball suitable for its team’s conditions, especially under night lighting.
2024-26 Rule Changes (cont.)
2-1-2: Number of Players, Illegal Players
Defined an illegal player as one who enters the game during live play wearing an additional goalkeeper’s cap.
Rational: During live play only one player wearing a goalie cap is allowed in the field of play.
2024-26 Rule Changes (cont.)
3-17-2a: Game Timer Duties
Added the phrase “or gains possession of” to the rule, which will assist referees and timekeepers in the case where a player wins an uncontested sprint but does not touch the ball
Rational: This addition allows referees to consider that possession has been gained and the clock can start.
2024-26 Rule Changes (cont.)
4-22 NOTE (new): Goals - How Scored
Added a NOTE defining a goal can be scored directly on a corner throw after the referee has removed the ball from the water for an administrative issue.
Rational: The new language will provide administrative flexibility for the officials by allowing a direct shot if the ball is removed for any administrative reason prior to the taking of a corner throw.
2024-26 Rule Changes (cont.)
5-11 NOTE (new): Free Throws - Time Allowed
When there is a counterattack, a player with a position of advantage does not have to give up the advantage to go to the ball and take the free throw. The player on that team who is next closest to the ball must take the free throw as long as there is no undue delay.
Rational: If there is no advantage on the counterattack, the player most readily available to take the free throw must do so.
2024-26 Rule Changes
1-6-1e: Markers
Added a continuous red marking must be placed on the goal line, 2 meters from the outside of both goal posts. An imaginary line from the end of each red marking to the 2-meter line creates the “goal area”.
Rational: Clarifies the new goal area.
2-meter line
Goal Area
2024-26 Rule Changes (cont.)
6-11-1, 6-11-2: Inside the 2-Meter Area
This rule changes the specific area around the goal and allows for an attacking player who is outside the “goal area” to go inside 2 meters without being penalized.
Rational: This opens up more angles for the offense and does not unnecessarily punish an attacking player who is not close to the goal but enters the 2-meter area.
2024-26 Rule Changes (cont.)
5-10-1: Free Throws - Where Taken
If the foul is committed inside the 2-meter area but outside the new “goal area”, the free throw is take where the ball is.
Rational: Clarifies that the attacking player no longer needs to be outside the defending goal area to take the free throw. As long as the player exits the new “goal area”, the player can take the free throw.
2024-26 Rule Changes (cont.)
6-11-3: Inside the 2-Meter Area
This new rule clarifies that a player in the goal area of the attacking team can never be in front of the line of the ball at any time during the game.
Rational: Because the new goal area closest to the goal, this new rule allows the officials to correctly call “inside the goal area” violations when the receiving player is ahead of the ball.
2024-26 Editorial Changes
2024-26 Water Polo Editorial Changes
Note: The NFHS is calling to the attention of all schools, referees and coaches the following risk management warnings and rules prohibiting the use of tobacco and alcohol products:
2024-26 Points of Emphasis
2024-26 Water Polo Points of Emphasis
Inside the “Goal Area” Clarifications:
Referees should be certain the player is inside the “goal area” when receiving the ball. If the referees are not certain, they should assume the player was not inside the “goal area”. Being on the line of the “goal area” is not considered being inside the “goal area”.
2024-26 Water Polo Points of Emphasis
Ball in Hand (except in the case of “foul from behind within 6 meters”):
The rule book mentions in several places regarding fouls against a player “who is not holding the ball.” That is when a foul could be given. It should not be an ordinary foul or exclusion foul to “tackle” (hold, sink, pull back) an opponent in an attempt to steal the ball out of the hand of the attacker as long as those actions are not deemed violent or over-aggressive. If an attacker is holding the ball and the attacker’s arm is grabbed or pulled which jars the ball loose from the attacker’s hand, a quick ordinary foul should not be given as no foul has been committed.
2024-26 Water Polo Points of Emphasis
Advantage:
The purpose of the advantage rule and the game itself is to score goals to win the game. The advantage rule clearly states that referees have the discretion to award or not to award any foul depending on whether the decision would advantage the attacking team. Referees are to refrain from awarding a foul if, in their opinion, awarding a foul would be an advantage to the offending team. If a player is holding the ball and/or is making progress toward a greater advantage and an opportunity to score a natural goal, the referees should allow that action to continue and not whistle a foul too quickly. The highest form of advantage is to score a goal, not to earn a foul. The advantage rule states that referees shall apply this principle to the fullest extent.
Rule Review:
Rule Review:
Rule 5-11 Free Throws - Time Allowed:
The time allowed for a player to take a free throw shall be at the discretion of the referees; it shall be reasonable, without undue delay, but does NOT have to be immediate. It shall be an offense if a player is clearly in a position most readily to take a free throw but does not.
Rule Review (cont.):
Rule 5-13 (also 4-19) Free throws - How Taken:
Free throws (putting the ball in play) must be taken clearly and visibly. This includes but not limited to, passing the ball to another player, dropping the ball from a raised hand into the water, throwing the ball in the air, tossing or placing the ball before swimming, or transferring the ball from one hand to another above the water. The referee administering the free throw must indicate “ball in play” by dropping an arm from horizontal to vertical position when the player clearly and visibly puts the ball into play.
Rule Review (cont.):
Rule 8-9 Attacking player from behind within 6 meters:
It shall be a penalty foul for a defending player to foul or impede an attacking player from behind within the 6-meter area in a probable goal situation regardless if he or she is holding the ball or not. The only way a defender can defend in this position is to touch only the ball or the hand. If the defending player’s actions prevent the attacking player from continuing the action, a penalty must be called.
Rule Review (cont.):
Rule 7-21, Tactical Foul (Direct Shot): (see rule book for clarification)
It shall be an exclusion foul if a player on defense commits an ordinary foul outside of 6 meters and does one of the following (but not limited to) as a “tactical foul” to prevent the player from shooting a direct shot:
NOTE: If, within the last minute of regulation, last minute of second overtime period, or anytime during sudden death, the team that was awarded the penalty may choose to keep possession of the ball instead of shootime the penalty shot.
If the tactical foul is committed in the final minute of the game to prevent a goal, it is a penalty foul.
Rule Review (cont.):
Rule 7-12 Minor Act of Misconduct (MAM):
An exclusion foul with a 20-second period of exclusion will be awarded for minor acts of misconduct (MAM) that are not sufficient to warrant exclusion for the remainder of the game. Examples of this type of exclusion foul include: a player directing minor comments to the referee, a player making minor gestures or minor shoving. A minor act of misconduct may be called during play or during interval time. A player receiving a second minor act of misconduct in a game will be excluded for the remainder of the game.
Managing Decorum:
Managing Decorum:
1. Sportsmanship is still an important point of emphasis for the 2024-25 school year.
2. The NFHS and State Association are looking to officials and school administrators to help put an end to poor sportsmanship.
3. It’s steadily becoming worse and worse throughout all sports including water polo.
4. Coach and fan behavior is the number 1 reason why officials quit.
5. We must take a collective stand against this type of behavior NOW.
Managing Decorum - Coaches:
1. We must do a better job of holding the coaches accountable for their disruptive and/or disrespectful behavior.
2. Coaches who constantly complain and “work” the officials must be given the appropriate warnings and cards early in the game.
3. We must be willing to issue a red card when warranted. When a yellow is issued and then we allow the coach to exhibit the same or worse behavior, not only does it not help end poor sportsmanship, it fosters it.
4. Profanity and personal remarks can be a direct red card. Throwing and kicking objects are direct red.
Managing Decorum - Spectators:
1. Never engage the fans and do not have rabbit ears. Ignore minor comments.
2. If comments are disruptive and/or inappropriate that need to be addressed, contact the school administrator on site to handle the situation.
3. Depending on the severity of the comment(s), have the school administrator either warn the fan(s), or have them leave the pool deck immediately.
4. If a school administrator is not present, have the coach of the host school handle the situation at the next time-out or quarter break preferably.
5. The game should not continue until the disruptive fans have left the pool deck.
Managing Decorum - Benches:
1. Make sure the benches are well behind the goal line before the game. There should be enough space for the coach to be able to stand while on defense.
2. All players should be seated on the bench. If there isn’t enough space, have the extra players stand directly behind the bench or sit on the ground.
3. Players are allowed to stay in the water with your permission but they should not be allowed to hang on the lane line or disrupt the re-entry area.
4. If there is enough space on the benches and the weather is warm, players should all be on the bench, not in the water.
Managing Decorum - Quarter Breaks and Time-outs:
1. Time-outs and quarter breaks are 2 minutes. Half time is 5 minutes.
2. A signal is given (horn or whistle) at the 1:45 mark of time-out and 30 seconds remaining of the period to warn the teams to come out of their huddle.
3. The game is to restart at the end of the 2 or 5 minute break.
4. We have been too lenient on this issue. We need to collectively insure that the proper times are being followed and issue the appropriate warnings and cards to the coaches when they are not.
5. During a 30 second timeout, the coach is allowed to move to half and the players are allowed to swim to the side of the pool to receive instructions. At 20 seconds, the warning signal should be given.
SCAF Reporting Procedure Jenn McCall - SCAF Jr. Chair
SCAF Reporting Procedure
Reportable Incidents
a. Flagrant misconduct
b. Fighting
c. Red card
d. Second minor act of misconduct in a game
e. Issues with field of play
f. Non-compliant caps or suits
g. Abandonment of game
h. Forfeit of game
i. Protests
j. Fan removal
SCAF Reporting Procedure
SCAF Reporting Procedure
Instructions on how to file an incident report:
1. Go to www.cifss.org
2. Go to the “Officials” drop down menu and click on “Misconduct Report”
3. Misconduct Login will appear, password is 123
4. Select “Ejection Misconduct” for all red cards, misconducts (second minor act of misconduct in a game), flagrant misconducts, and fan removal.
5. Select “Incident” for injuries, issues with field of play, non-compliant caps or suits, forfeit of game, protests, and abandonment of game.
6. Select “Jenn McCall - Water Polo” as the liaison.
7. Complete report and submit.
SCAF Reporting Procedure
“Ejection Misconduct”
“Incident”
Uniform - Rule 3-3
Uniform and equipment for referees shall consist of white shirt or jacket, white trousers, white shoes, a whistle, a watch, red and yellow cards and a coin.
Questions & Answers
Assigning Procedures