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 as from 1 January 2024).
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 as from 1 January 2024), these BUCS sport specific regulations will supersede, unless specifically stated otherwise.
*Please note that the following elements of the World Aquatics (WA) Water Polo Rules are not currently being adopted by BUCS and will be reviewed for 2025-26:
- 'Flying substitutions' and therefore the requirement for there to be lateral/'flying substitution' areas.
- Video Assistant Referees and the VAR protocol.
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 1.1 Eligibility for these Championships shall be in line with the Transgender and Non-Binary Competition Policies of Scottish Swimming, Swim England, and Swim Wales, however should an individual be eligible under these polices for either Championships, once they have been selected (listed on a team sheet) for a team in a specific Championships (Open of Female) they may not then compete for a team in the other Championships for the remainder of the season.
WAT 2 Match format and timings
WAT 2.1 Premier Tier/National Championship
WAT 2.1.1 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 2.1.2 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 2.2 Tier 1/National Trophy and Tier 2 and below/Conference Cup
WAT 2.2.1 The duration of matches shall be as per the WA Water Polo Rules, except that the intervals between periods shall be two minutes. 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 2.2.2 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 30 metres for Men's fixtures or 25 metres for Women's fixtures. 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.
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 Possession/Shot clocks For Premier Tier and National Championship fixtures possession/shot clocks are compulsory. For all other fixtures, possession/shot clocks are not compulsory, but where not provided it is a requirement to have an audible whistle to signal the end of possession.
WAT 3.7.1 Failure to provide possession/shot clocks for Premier Tier and National Championship fixtures will result in a £100 fine per instance of this breach for the home team. Away teams cannot claim a walkover, play under protest or appeal, as the match can still go ahead timed by the officials and with use of an audible whistle to signal the end of possession.
WAT 3.8 WA rule 18.1.4 with regard to water temperature shall not apply.
WAT 3.9 WA rule 18.1.5 with regard to light intensity shall not apply.
WAT 4 Match officials Match officials should be appointed as per Appendix 5 (‘BUCS Match Officials Requirements’).
WAT 4.1 The use of audio equipment by the referees is not required but is permitted.
WAT 5 Balls The home team is responsible for providing three regulation match balls. Should balls not be deemed suitable the away team may provide match balls. The referee will have the final decision.
WAT 6 Teams and substitutes WA rule 2 shall be followed with the following variations:
WAT 6.1 Team composition
WAT 6.1.1 Each team shall consist of a maximum of thirteen players. A team shall start the game with not more than seven players, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper and who shall wear the goalkeeper’s cap. Six reserves may be used as substitutes. Any of the reserves may be used as a substitute goalkeeper but must wear a red cap. A team playing with less than seven players shall not be required to have a goalkeeper.
WAT 6.1.2 The minimum number of players per team required for a fixture to start will be six.
WAT 6.2 Substitution Procedure
WAT 6.2.1 At any time in the game, a field player or goalkeeper may be substituted by leaving the field of play at the team’s exclusion re-entry area. The substitute may enter the field of play from the exclusion re-entry area as soon as the player has visibly risen to the surface of the water within the re-entry area and touched hands above the water with the substitute. A substitute shall be ready to replace a player, without delay. If the substitute is not ready, the game shall continue without the substitute and, at any time, the substitute may then enter the field of play from the team’s designated substitution areas, after touching hands where applicable.
WAT 6.2.2 No substitution shall be made under WAT 6.2.1 between the time a referee awards a penalty throw and the taking of the throw. If a goalkeeper is substituted under WAT 6.2.1, this can be by any of the reserves to act as a substitute goalkeeper, but they must wear a red cap, unless the team is playing with less than seven players in which case they are not required to have a goalkeeper. A goalkeeper who has been replaced by a substitute may play in any position.
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.
