Eastern Saints Water Polo Club

water polo for young and old

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Game and Rules Summary

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The playing area – is typically 30 X 20 meters with a minimum of 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) of depth. However this can vary depending on the pool being played in. The edge of the pool is marked with a red marker (2m line / offside line), yellow marker (5m line / foul line) and white marker (centre line). In the corner of the playing area directly opposite the official’s table is the “player changeover area”. This is normally highlighted by a red box, but depending on the pool this may just be the corner of the playing area. Next to this changeover area on the side is where the rest of team not in the water sit / stand.

Number of players – Each team is allowed 13 players, with seven (a goalkeeper and six field players) participating at any one time. Players tread water the entire game and cannot touch the bottom or sides of the pool. Except for the goalkeeper, players may handle the ball with only one hand.

The timing of the game – is played over four quarters, each quarter being a set time length with intervals between quarters. The timings of the games varies depending on the age group, competition and gender. As in basketball, two clocks are used to time a water polo game. One indicates the time remaining in the quarter and the other, called the “shot clock or 30 second clock”, indicates how much time remains for the offensive team to shoot the ball (the team is allowed 30 seconds to shoot the ball). Note that if the defensive team have a player ejected (sin binned) the shot clock is restarted for the offensive side. This all occurs if a shoot is taken and the offensive team regain position immediately.

Substitutions – are most common after a goal is scored, between periods, or for an ejected player. However players can also substitute at anytime during live play via the “changeover area”. Players must not in these situations dive in to the water or push off the side of the pool!

Physical contact – is the rule rather than the exception, as the players manoeuvre for position in front of the goal and in other parts of the playing area. The referee indicates fouls by blowing a whistle and using hand signals to point out the location of the foul and the attacking direction of the fouled player.

A goal – (1 point) is scored when the ball is thrown or pushed completely past the line of the goal and within the goal.

Starting the game and each quarter – Each quarter is started with the teams lined up on opposite 2m lines. On a signal (whistle) from the referee, the teams sprint toward centre pool where the referee tosses the ball into the water. The team gaining possession of the ball advances it toward its offensive end of the pool by swimming, dribbling or passing the ball. ·

Fouls – There are two types of fouls in water polo — ordinary fouls, which account for approximately 90 percent of the whistles during the game, and major fouls. Players are allowed three major fouls before they foul out of the match. Major fouls include exclusion and penalty fouls.

Main reasons for ordinary fouls include:

· Touching the ball with two hands;
· Taking the ball under water when tackled;
· Impeding an opponent who is not holding the ball;
· Pushing off an opponent; and,
· Stalling (failing to shoot or advance the ball within 35 seconds). This now includes throwing the ball back to the goalkeeper after the same team has moved the ball past the halfway line.

When the referee calls an ordinary foul, the offended team is awarded a free throw at the point of the foul, or behind the point of the foul if the free throw is taken immediately. The offensive team must put the ball in play within three seconds by releasing, swimming or passing the ball. A player cannot shoot the ball on a free throw, unless the foul occurred behind the 5m line / foul line. If the shoot is taken directly from the foul throw the shoot action must be immediate.

Common exclusion fouls include:

· Kicking or striking;
· Deliberate splashing in the face;
· An ordinary foul committed by the defence during dead time (after a foul occurs, but before the offended player has put the ball into play);
· Interfering with a free throw (the defensive player must retreat at least a metre from the player taking the foul throw);
· Misconduct or disrespect to the referee;
· Holding, sinking or pulling back an opponent not holding the ball;
· Having two hands up anywhere in the pool;
· Improper entry during a substitution during live play; and
· Exclusion fouls result in a player being excluded from the game for 20 seconds.

The excluded player (or his/her substitute) may not return until the 20 second exclusion time expires, a goal is scored or a change of possession takes place, whichever occurs first. A player with three major fouls is removed from the game with substitution. Deliberate kicking or striking with intent to injure (brutality) results in ejection of the offending player for the remainder of the game, substitution allowed after 4 minutes. These types of offences will also be reported by the referee and other sanctions may be brought to bear on the individual involved, such as match bans and or fines.

Penalty fouls are committed within the five-metre area where a goal probably would have resulted. The offensive player fouled while in control of the ball and facing the goal inside the five-meter line is usually awarded the penalty throw. A penalty foul is recorded against the player committing the foul. Any player in the game from the offended team can take the penalty throw. The shot is taken from the 5m line, with only the goalie defending.

The award of a penalty throw most commonly occurs in the following situation within the five-meter area:

· Any player, including the goalkeeper, pulling down or pushing away the goal;
· Any player, except the goalkeeper, playing the ball with both hands or a clenched fist;
· The goalkeeper or a defensive player taking the ball underwater;
· When an offensive player in control of the ball and facing the goal is fouled by holding, sinking or pulling back.

This is not the full version of the current Water Polo rules, these can be found on the FINA website (click here) and the SA Waterpolo Bylaws can be on their website (click here).

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Game and Rules Summary

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Recent Posts

  • Australian Youth Water Polo Championships
  • 2018 WPSA Awards
  • 2018 Annual Awards & AGM
  • A Grade Finals
  • Its on Again!

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easternsaintswaterpolo

📣 Don’t miss out on our club AGM tonight! Com 📣 Don’t miss out on our club AGM tonight! Committee and Sub-Committee positions available for nomination! 

Looking forward to seeing you all there 🤽🏻‍♂️🤽
📣Training is back! 📣 Winter training recomm 📣Training is back! 📣

Winter training recommences tonight. Hope to see you all there!🤽🤽🏻‍♂️

Juniors 6:30-7:30 
Seniors 7:30-8:30

New players are always welcome! Send us a message or check out our website for more info 💙

#waterpolo #waterpololife #saintswaterpolo #saintswp #spocwaterpolo #haveago #comeandtry #juniortraining
🔵 2022 AGM - Save the date! 🔵 When: August 🔵 2022 AGM - Save the date! 🔵 

When: August 4th, 6:30pm 
Where: Pool Cafeteria, St Peters College 

More details to come soon. Look forward to seeing players, members and parents there!
🚨KAP7 ARE COMING TO ADELAIDE 🚨 These school 🚨KAP7 ARE COMING TO ADELAIDE 🚨
These school holidays, the KAP7 team will host a 3-day camp to give athletes intensive sessions on water polo fundamentals and position-specific drills, culminating in a mini-tournament to put all their new skills into effect!
📍 Adelaide Aquatic Centre
📆 11th, 12th & 13th July 2022
⏰ 9am – 3pm
👥 U12’S, U14’S & U16’S

Registrations are now OPEN, so quickly head to the link 🔗 below to grab your spot before they sell out!

https://kap7.com.au/products/kap7-adelaide-holiday-camp-2022

 #easternsaints #saintswaterpolo @kap7aus @waterpolosa_adelaide
Junior training is on again tonight from 6:30pm! 🤽🤽🏻‍♂️
Never played before? Keen to learn a new sport? Come and try for free during Term 2! Send us a message for more info 💪

#saintswaterpolo #easternsaints #easternsaintswp #waterpolo #comentry #haveago #juniortraining #waterpolofun #comeandtry
Training on tonight! 💪 Juniors from 6:30pm Sen Training on tonight! 💪

Juniors from 6:30pm
Seniors from 7:30pm

Bring a friend along to try for free!
Winter training starts up this Thursday night! 🤽🤽🏻‍♂️

6:30pm - Juniors 
7:30pm - Seniors 

Got a friend who wants to try? New to the sport but keen to have a go? First 3 training sessions are free 🙌

#easternsaints #easternsaintswp #saintswaterpolo #saintswp #waterpolo #waterpololife #comentry #haveago
Massive congratulations to all of our junior athle Massive congratulations to all of our junior athletes selected to represent Adelaide Jets at the Australian Youth Championships this weekend! 👏
Good luck to all players, we hope you have an amazing tournament! ❤️💛💙

🤽‍♀️ 14 Girls - Isabella, Isla, Olivia 
🤽🏻‍♂️ 14 Boys - Beau, Emerson, Miles, Noah 
🤽 16 Girls - Ari, Mabel, Emily, Claudia, Zoe 
🤽🏻‍♂️ 16 Boys - Will, Michael, Donovan, Oliver, Nicki 
🤽🏻‍♂️ 18 Boys - Tom 

#gosaints #easternsaints #easternsaintswp #saintswp #saintswaterpolo #gojets #gameday
Don’t miss out on the last training for term one Don’t miss out on the last training for term one tomorrow night! All 12s, 14s and 17s players are invited to join in from 5:45-6:45pm for a fun final session. See you there! 🙌🌊
Reminder that there is NO TRAINING this Monday 14t Reminder that there is NO TRAINING this Monday 14th March due to the public holiday. Make sure to keep an eye out for finals information- coming soon! 💙

#easternsaintswp #easternsaints #saintswaterpolo #waterpolo #waterpololife #training
Nail biting game for our 17&U ladies! With scores Nail biting game for our 17&U ladies! With scores tied at third quarter time, the girls rallied as a team and managed to come away with a 7 to 6 win against Tritons. Some incredible shots, saves and steals from both teams. 🤽💛
What a way to finish the regular season! #gosaints 

#easternsaints #easternsaintswp #waterpolo #waterpololife #gameday #yeahthegirls #ytg #finalsfever #saintswaterpolo
Awesome effort from our 17&U boys who played their Awesome effort from our 17&U boys who played their final game for the season last night! 💪
The boys played a great game, unfortunately falling just short, with Vikings taking the 9 to 7 win. We can’t wait to see what these guys can achieve next season! #gosaints 
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#saintswaterpolo #easternsaints #easternsaintswp #waterpolo #waterpololife #ytb
To all of our female players, parents, coaches, re To all of our female players, parents, coaches, referees and volunteers. Thank you for everything that you do 🙌💛
#intetnationalwomensday #iwd 
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#easternsaints #easternsaintswp #saintswaterpolo #waterpolo #waterpolosa #gosaints #yeahthegirls #ytg
Great weekend for our junior water polo players! 🤽🏻‍♂️🤽
Our 14&U team had a strong 10 to 6 win against Vikings Red. They all worked really well together as a group, highlighted by a large number of goal scorers 💪💪
The 12&U team has grown so much over the season, and continued to build on their skills in the pool today. Was awesome to see them setting up plays and assisting each other to get the goals and steals 👏👏
#gosaints!

#easternsaints #easternsaintswp #saintswaterpolo #juniorwaterpolo #haveago #waterpolo #gameday
Great afternoon out for our 12&U and 14&U teams! L Great afternoon out for our 12&U and 14&U teams! Lots of smiles and lessons learnt in the pool 💪
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#easternsaints #easternsaintswp #gosaints #saintswaterpolo #waterpolo #haveago #gameday #comentry
Great first outing for our 12&U group! They played Great first outing for our 12&U group! They played really well as a team and created some great opportunities. Smiles all round! 🤽🤽🏻‍♂️
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#gosaints #easternsaintswp #easternsaints #waterpolo #haveago #gametime
🎉 Massive congratulations to our very own @tahl 🎉 Massive congratulations to our very own @tahliascipioni for being selected in the Australian Junior Women’s Squad. Wishing you all the best and well done to all athletes selected! 💪
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#gosaints #saintswaterpolo #easternsaintswp #easternsaints #waterpoloaus #waterpolo
Great back to back wins from our girls teams this Great back to back wins from our girls teams this week! 🙌
Last night saw our women’s team get a 8-6 win over Tritons, made possible by Claudia’s awesome saves in goals 💪 
Tonight the 17 & Under girls  came away with a convincing 20-2 win against Vikings, showing just how far they’ve come as a team this season! #ytg 

#gosaints #easternsaints #easternsaintswp #waterpolo #gogirls #gameday
17 & Under boys had their first game back for 2022 17 & Under boys had their first game back for 2022 last night! 💪 
The team fought hard, unfortunately going down 6 to 1 1 to Vikings Red. Shout out to our goal scorers Michael, Will, Hugo and Henry 👏🤽🏻‍♂️

#gosaints #saintswaterpolo #easternsaintswp #easternsaints #waterpolo #backinaction
Smiles all round with water polo training resuming Smiles all round with water polo training resuming on Monday 31st January! Grab your friends and bring them along to try for free 🙌

#easternsaints #easternsaintswp #saintswaterpolo #waterpolo #comentry
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