World Aquatics Announces Key Rule Updates to Enhance Fairness, Safety, and Efficiency in Water Polo
World Aquatics has officially announced a series of important changes to the Water Polo Competition Regulations, following the 2025 Water Polo World Cup. These updates, approved by the World Aquatics Bureau, reflect months of collaboration between the World Aquatics Water Polo Working Group and the wider water polo community.
The primary goal of these amendments is to improve the pace and flow of the game, ensure player safety, and enhance fairness across all levels of competition. Below is a summary of the key rule changes set to take effect:
Key Rule Changes
1. Possession Time
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The maximum ball possession time has been increased from 25 to 28 seconds for both men’s and women’s games.
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All shot clock resets will also now reset to 28 seconds.
2. Second Possession Time
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If a team regains possession after a rebound from their own shot, they will now have 18 seconds to shoot, up from the previous 15 seconds.
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Similarly, after an exclusion foul, the attacking team will have 18 seconds of possession time.
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These adjustments apply to both men’s and women’s competitions.
3. Break Interval Timing
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The halftime break between the second and third periods will now last five minutes instead of three, allowing players more recovery time.
4. Third Personal Foul
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Players receiving a third personal foul are no longer required to sit in a designated area near the bench.
5. Coach’s Challenge Review
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Referees will have a maximum of two minutes to review video footage and deliver a decision on a Coach’s Challenge.
6. Signalling a Coach’s Challenge
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Coaches must now signal a challenge by:
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Throwing a designated green flag into the field of play.
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Making the VAR square-signal hand gesture (drawing a square with the index fingers).
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The previous requirement to press a timeout button or use a horn has been removed.
Implementation and Timeline
National Member Federations are encouraged to begin integrating these new rules into their domestic training and competition frameworks as soon as feasible. The full and official version of the updated rules is expected to be published on the World Aquatics website by the end of May 2025.
In parallel, World Aquatics is conducting a comprehensive grammatical and structural review of the existing Competition Regulations. This review is focused solely on improving the clarity and consistency of the rules, without altering their substance. The revised water polo regulations will be released simultaneously with this broader update and will become effective upon publication.
World Aquatics appreciates the ongoing support and collaboration of all National Member Federations and looks forward to a smoother, safer, and more dynamic future for water polo.
Sports Editor
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