Revised: Spring 2022
About Inner Tube Water Polo
- ITWP is played in a pool with goals at each end. Players move around the pool in an inner tube.
- The object of the game is to score more goals than the other team by throwing the ball into the opponent's goal.
- Defensive players try to prohibit advancement by the other team and regain possession.
Game Location
- Myers-McLoraine Pool (Ratner Athletics Center)
- Pool Rules:
- A lifeguard (provided by the Athletics Dept.) must be on deck before anyone enters the pool.
- A shower is required prior to entering the pool.
- No street shoes or personal items on the pool deck (locker rooms will be available before and after play).
- Users must wear a clean bathing suit to enter the pool
- No food, drink, gum or tobacco products are allowed in the pool area (except plastic water bottles).
- Individuals under the influence of alcohol or drugs are not permitted in the pool area.
- Spectators are restricted to the bleacher area.
- Participants are subject to all other rules/policies posted in the pool area and stated by lifeguards or IM Supervisor.
Equipment
- All participants must wear appropriate clothing (see Pool Rules above).
- Inner tubes, balls, and goals will be provided.
- Jewelry (and other items which may be considered dangerous) must be removed prior to playing.
- Swim caps are permitted but NOT required.
- Teams playing the first and last game of the night will be asked to help move equipment.
Players & Substitutions
- A team consists of seven (7) players in the pool at a time (6 "field" players & 1 goalie).
- Coed = At least three (3) female-identifying players in the pool (when playing with 7 players)
- Female players may play in the "field" or goal
- A team may start and play with as few as five (5) players.
- Coed = At least two (2) female-identifying players in the pool (when playing with 5 or 6 players)
- Substitutions:
- Substitutes will be seated on the end of the pool which their team is defending.
- A player may substitute at any time but must wait until the exiting player is completely out of the pool.
- Entrance into the pool must be made by slipping in, NO DIVING.
- A player must be properly on their inner tube prior to advancing or making any plays.
- For goalie substitutions, the official must be informed, and the change must be made during a stoppage in play.
- Substitutes should help return balls going out of play to the goalie.
Roster Submission
- Team managers/captains are responsible for inputting their rosters on IMLeagues.
- Players must be listed on the online/printed roster to play.
- All players must check in with the IM Official or Supervisor prior to game time.
- Roster additions are unlimited and can be made throughout the regular season.
- Rosters will lock at the conclusion of the regular season.
- Only players on the official online roster on IMLeagues will be permitted to compete in the playoffs.
General Rules
- Games consist of four 8-minute quarters with running clock.
- There will be a 1-minute break between quarters and a 5-minute halftime. Teams switch sides at half.
- Due to extenuating circumstances, officials may need to adjust the length of the quarters.
- Teams must be ready to play by game time.
- This means arriving early to stretch and check in.
- A 5-minute grace period will be given if needed. After 5-minutes, a forfeit will be awarded.
- If a team has the required minimum number of players, the game begins on time.
- Teams that forfeit are subject to being removed from the league and a deduction from their deposit.
- Timeouts:
- Each team will be permitted one timeout per half.
- Timeouts may be taken during a dead ball or called by a player in the pool whose team is in possession of the ball.
- Inner Tube Positioning
- Players must SIT in the inner tube during play to advance in the pool or possess the ball.
- Must be sitting in a horizontal position, facing up, with both legs hanging over the tube.
- Players may not lie down in the tube (either on their stomach or back).
- Players may not be positioned vertically within the tube (with legs down towards the bottom of the pool)
- If a player falls out of their tube, they must return to the correct position prior to advancing or making any play.
- Scoring
- All goals are worth 1 point.
- The ball may be thrown at the goal from any point behind the goal area line (flags) within the pool.
- Players may enter the goal area to gain possession of the ball but must either swim back out or pass the ball outside of the goal area in order to attempt a score.
- Players attempting a goal must maintain their balance and remain in their inner tube.
- A "goal" scored when a player is not within their inner tube will not be allowed.
- A good goal must completely cross the goal line between the posts.
- A ball "skipped" into the goal will count. However, a ball splashed into the goal will not be counted.
- Goalies
- A goalie may not attempt to block or handle the ball when they are not in their innertube.
- Only the goalie may defend the area directly in front of the goal (no loading up the goal area with defenders).
- After a goal has been scored, the defending goalkeeper will put the ball into play.
- The goalie must release the ball within five (5) seconds.
- Methods allowed to prevent the advance of the ball:
- Moving in front of the advancing player to inhibit progress.
- Seizing the ball from the player holding it.
- Knocking the ball from the hands of the player and causing it to float free.
- Blocking opponent's vision with hands (without contact).
- NO SPLASHING
- A ball thrown or deflected out-of-bounds along the sideline will be put back in play by opposing team where it went out.
- A ball thrown or deflected out-of-bounds along the end line (behind the goal) will be put back in play by the goalie on that end, regardless of which team last touched it.
- Regular season games ending in a tie will be recorded as such (No Overtime).
Beginning the Game
- At the start of each quarter, teams will line up at each end of the pool against the wall (on the side they are defending).
- The official will throw the ball in the center of the pool, and sound a whistle, to initiate play via an "opening rush".
Fouls & Misconduct (All violations and fouls will be administered at the point of the infraction)
Violations:
- Starting play before the referee blows the whistle.
- Advancing in the pool or making a play while not properly positioned in the inner tube (includes the goalie).
- Intentional delay of game.
- Taking the ball underwater or intentionally keeping the ball covered to prevent the opposing team from gaining possession.
- Improper substitution.
- Too many players in the pool or incorrect coed ratio.
- Jumping on inner tubes (A warning will be issued; second infraction will result in a penalty shot).
- Shooting the ball in front of the goalie area line (flags).
Fouls:
- Taunting or verbally abusing other players or staff
- Holding, pushing, or kicking off an opponent's inner tube.
- Grabbing/slapping an opponent's arms or legs under or above the water
- Tipping or attempting to tip opponent's innertube.
- Making contact with the opposing goalie which prohibits them from making a save.
- Splashing goalie or any other player.
OVERTIME (PLAYOFFS ONLY)
- Playoff games ending in a tie will be decided by a shootout.
- Only players in the pool at the end of regulation may participate in the shootout. The goalie must remain the same.
- Captains Rock/Paper/Scissor for choice of shooting first or second.
- Each team takes an initial series of 5 shots alternating turns from the goal line, to determine a winner.
- A different player must take each shot. The goalie may be one of the shooters.
- At least two of the five shooters must be female-identifying. Male-identifying players from the same team should not shoot consecutively.
- If score remains tied after each team's initial five shots, shots will continue in the same order until a team has one more goal in the same number of shots.
- All players that ended overtime in the pool must shoot before the order begins to repeat.
- Gender ratios/order must continue to be adhered to among additional shots.
TIEBREAKERS
For playoff advancement and seeding, the following tiebreakers will be used:
- Winning Percentage
- Head-to-Head
- Goals Against (Average per Game)
- Record vs. Common Opponents
- Record vs. Other Playoff Teams
- Coin Flip
