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🤽 Water Polo — Rules of the Game

Positions, scoring, fouls, key terms and junior game durations — the same rules reference built into the Squaddie app.

Fast, physical swimming sport played under World Aquatics rules.

Water Polo New Zealand Water Polo Australia World Aquatics (international law book)

Based on the World Aquatics (formerly FINA) Water Polo Rules, as adopted by Water Polo NZ and Water Polo Australia. Junior grades often shorten quarters and relax the shot clock.

Two teams of seven (in the water at once) try to throw the ball into the opponent's goal. Players swim continuously — there's no standing on the pool floor.

7 per side (6 + goalkeeper)

Players in water

4 × 8 min quarters

Match format

~30m × 20m (men), 25m × 20m (women)

Pool size

30 seconds per possession

Shot clock

Rules are just the start.

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