WAT i The BUCS Water Polo Championships shall be conducted in accordance with the following BUCS sport specific regulations, the BUCS general regulations, and the Water Polo Rules of the World Aquatics (WA) Competition Regulations (in force on 1 September of the current BUCS season).
WAT ii In the event that these regulations contradict the BUCS general regulations, these BUCS sport specific regulations will supersede, unless specifically stated otherwise.
WAT iii In the event that these regulations contradict the Water Polo Rules of the World Aquatics (WA) Competition Regulations (in force on 1 September of the current BUCS season), these BUCS sport specific regulations will supersede, unless specifically stated otherwise.
WAT iv The gender eligibility criteria for the BUCS Water Polo Championships will be determined as per REG 4.3.
WAT 1 There shall be separate Open and Female Team Championships. The programme for each Championships shall include leagues and knockout competitions as per BUCS general regulations, Appendix 1 (‘BUCS Competition Offer and Associated BUCS Points’) and Appendix 10 (‘BUCS Promotion, Relegation and Knockout Information’).
WAT 2 Match format and timings
WAT 2.1 The duration of matches shall be as per the WA Water Polo Rules. In the event of a tie after four periods in a league match, the result shall be a draw. In the event of a tie after four periods in a knockout competition match, the outcome of the match shall be determined by following the penalty shoot out process of the WA Water Polo Rules.
WAT 2.2 Pools must be booked for an appropriate length of time to allow for the full conclusion of the match including a warm up. A minimum of 75 minutes of pool time must be booked for all matches. Institutions/Playing Entities failing to book at least this minimum amount of pool time will be considered to have defaulted on the match if for any reason there is insufficient time to bring the fixture to a conclusion.
WAT 3 Field of play and equipment
WAT 3.1 Field of play dimensions
WAT 3.1.1 Where “floating goals” are used, the distance between the goal lines shall not be less than 20 metres and not more than 25 metres. Where “floating goals” are used, the boundary of the field of play at each end shall be not less than 0.30 metres behind the goal line. Where "wall-mounted goals" are used, the length of the pool from wall to wall must not exceed 25 metres nor be less than 22 metres. Where "wall-mounted goals" are used, the boundary line of the field of play at each end shall be the pool wall behind the goal line.
WAT 3.1.2 The width of the field of play shall be not less than 10 metres and not more than 20 metres.
WAT 3.1.3 The depth of the water within the field of play shall be consistently not less than 1.50 metres.
WAT 3.1.3.1 An exception to WAT 3.1.3 is that for South Eastern Conference Tier 1 and below league fixtures only, the depth of the water within the field of play shall be consistently not less than 0.90 metres.
WAT 3.2 Markers Distinctive marks shall be provided on both sides of the field of play to denote the following: white marks – goal line and half distance line; red marks – 2 metres from goal lines; yellow marks – 6 metres from goal lines; red marks shall be placed 5 metres from goal lines to indicate the point from which a penalty shot must be taken. It should be noted that the sides of the field of play do not have to be lane ropes and can be the side pool walls, however if the pool is more than 20 metres wide, properly marked/coloured sidelines (lane ropes) are required. Distinctive marks shall be provided on both ends of the field of play to denote the following: red marks - 2 metres out from each goal post.
WAT 3.3 Exclusion re-entry areas
WAT 3.3.1 A red mark shall be placed at each end of the field of play, 2 metres from the corner of the field of play on the side opposite to the officials table, to denote the exclusion re-entry area.
WAT 3.3.2 The exact dimensions of the re-entry area will be determined by the dimensions of the pool, the dimensions of the field of play and whether “floating goals” or “wall-mounted goals” are being used. If not clearly marked by lane ropes and/or the pool walls, prior to the start of the match the referees should inform the team captains of the specific boundaries of the re-entry area.
WAT 3.4 Sufficient space shall be provided to enable the referees to have free movement from end to end of the field of play.
WAT 3.5 The table officials shall be provided with separate white, blue, red and yellow flags, each measuring 0.35 metres x 0.20 metres.
WAT 3.6 Goals
WAT 3.6.1 Two goal posts and a crossbar, rigidly constructed, rectangular with a dimension of 0.075 metres facing the field of play and painted white shall be located on the goal lines at each end, equal distances from the sides.
WAT 3.6.2 The inner sides of the goal posts shall be 3 metres apart and the underside of the crossbar shall be 0.90 metres from the water surface.
WAT 3.6.3 For "floating goals", limp nets shall be securely fastened to the goal posts and crossbar to enclose the entire goal area and shall be attached to the goal fixtures in such a manner as to allow not less than 0.30 metres clear space behind the goal line everywhere within the goal area. For "wall-mounted" goals, the goal space shall be a minimum of 0.4572 metres deep without any obstructions and they must have a backing that is loosely attached to the goal fittings to enclose the goal space in front of all supports.
WAT 3.7 Shot clocks
WAT 3.7.1 Premier Tier and National Championship matches One or more visible shot clocks shall be required. A team cannot claim a walkover, play under protest or submit a match appeal for a lack of one or more visible shot clocks, as the match can still go ahead timed by the match officials and with use of an audible whistle to signal the end of possession. However, failure to provide one or more visible shot clocks for a match will result in the first named (home) team being liable for a £100 fine where this is reported to BUCS.
WAT 3.7.2 All other league and knockout competition matches There is no requirement to provide one or more visible shot clocks, but where one or more visible shot clocks are not provided, it is a requirement to have an audible whistle to signal the end of possession.
WAT 3.8 WA rules with regard to light intensity and water temperature shall not apply.
WAT 3.9 Flying substitution area A 'flying substitution' area is not required.
WAT 4 Match officials Match officials should be appointed as per Appendix 5 (‘BUCS Match Officials Requirements’).
WAT 4.1 Failure to provide the appropriate Referee(s) Where, under REG 10.2 it is the responsibility of the first named (home) institution/Playing Entity to arrange the appropriate match officials, REG 10.6.2–REG 10.6.4 shall apply in relation to a failure to provide the appropriate Referee(s).
WAT 4.2 Failure to provide the appropriate Table Officials Where, under REG 10.2 it is the responsibility of the first named (home) institution/Playing Entity to arrange the appropriate match officials, REG 10.6.2–REG 10.6.4 shall apply in relation to a failure to provide the appropriate Table Officials, with the following amendments:
- Where a team is permitted to 'play under protest' under REG 10.6.3.3, they may only appeal the match result if the Referee(s) provide written evidence to substantiate that the performance(s) of the Table Official(s) that did not meet the requirements of Appendix 5 (‘BUCS Match Officials Requirements’) affected the outcome of the match.
- In cases where REG 10.6.4.1/REG 10.6.4.2/REG 10.6.4.3 would apply, the fixture shall only be conceded as a walkover win to the opposition (away) institution/Playing Entity if the Referee(s) provide written evidence to substantiate that the performance(s) of the Table Official(s) that did not meet the requirements of Appendix 5 (‘BUCS Match Officials Requirements’) affected the outcome of the match, but in all cases the first named (home) team will incur a £50 fine.
WAT 4.3 The use of audio equipment by the match officials is not required but is permitted.
WAT 5 Balls The first named (home) team shall provide at least three match balls which shall meet the requirements of the WA rules, with any requirements stated as applying to "men's" matches applying to Open matches and any requirements stated as applying to "women's" matches applying to Female matches. Should the opposition (away) team deem that any of the balls provided by the first named (home) team are not suitable, they may provide match balls, however, the referee(s) will have the final decision.
WAT 6 Teams, players and substitutions The WA rules shall apply with the following exceptions:
WAT 6.1 Where a team's start list comprises of fewer than 14 players, their designated goalkeeper(s) can at any time be replaced as goalkeeper by any field player and they can play as a field player.
WAT 6.2 There will be no flying substitutions.
WAT 7 League points
WAT 7.1 Two points will be awarded for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss.
WAT 7.2 Where a walkover has been awarded/conceded (REG 13), two points shall be given to the non-offending team and two points deducted from the offending team.
WAT 7.3 No points will be awarded to either team in the case of a void fixture.
WAT 8 Match record sheets
WAT 8.1 All fixtures must be fully recorded on a match record sheet which shall be provided by the first named (home) team. Failure to use a match record sheet will result in the forfeiture of a match by the first named (home) team where this is proven.
WAT 8.2 At the end of each fixture, the referees shall check and sign the match record sheet.
WAT 8.3 It is the responsibility of the first named (home) team for each fixture to keep a copy of the match record sheet until the end of the season. In the case of a match appeal or dispute regarding a result, the first named (home) team must be able to produce the match record sheet to BUCS when requested.
