WP 21 EXCLUSION FOULS

WP 21.1 It shall be an exclusion foul to commit any of the following offences (WP 21.4 to WP 21.16), which shall be punished (except as otherwise provided by the Rules) by the award of a free throw to the opposing team and the exclusion of the player who committed the foul.

WP 21.2 The excluded player shall move to the re-entry area nearest to the player’s own goal line without leaving the water. An excluded player who leaves the water (other than following the entry of a substitute) shall be deemed guilty of an offence under WP 21.10 (Disrespect).
[Note. An excluded player (including any player excluded under the Rules for the remainder of the game) shall remain in the water and move (which may include swimming underwater) to the re-entry position nearest to the player’s own goal line without interfering with the play. The player may swim from the field of play at any point on the goal line and may swim behind the goal to reach the re-entry area provided the player does not interfere with the alignment of the goal.
On reaching the re-entry area, the excluded player shall be required to visibly rise to the surface of the water before the player (or a substitute) shall be permitted to re-enter in accordance with the Rules. However, it shall not be necessary for the excluded player to then remain in the re-entry area to await the arrival of an intended substitute.]

WP 21.3 The excluded player or a substitute shall be permitted to re-enter the field of play after the earliest occurrence of one of the following:
(a) when 20 seconds of actual play have elapsed, at which time the secretary shall raise the appropriate flag provided that the excluded player has reached the re-entry area in accordance with the Rules;
(b) when a goal has been scored;
(c) when the excluded player’s team has retaken possession of the ball (which means receiving control of the ball) during actual play, at which time the defensive referee shall signal re-entry by a hand signal;
(d) when the excluded player’s team is awarded a free throw or goal throw, the referee’s signal to award the throw qualifies as the re-entry signal, provided that the excluded player has reached the re-entry area in accordance with the Rules.

The excluded player or a substitute shall be permitted to re-enter the field of play from the re-entry area nearest to the player’s own goal line, provided that:
(a) the player has received a signal from the secretary or a referee;
(b) the player shall not jump or push off from the side or wall of the pool or field of
play;
(c) the player shall not affect the alignment of the goal;
(d) a substitute shall not be permitted to enter in the place of an excluded player until that player has reached the re-entry area nearest to the player’s own goal line.

After a goal has been scored an excluded player or a substitute may re-enter the field of play from any place.

These provisions shall also apply to the entry of a substitute when the excluded player has received three personal fouls or has otherwise been excluded from the remainder of the game in accordance with the Rules.
[Note. A substitute shall not be signalled in by a referee and nor shall the secretary signal the expiration of 20 seconds exclusion period until the excluded player has reached the re-entry area nearest to the player’s own goal line. This shall also apply to the re-entry of a substitute who is to replace a player excluded from the remainder of the game. In the event of an excluded player failing to return to the player’s re-entry area, a substitute shall not be permitted to enter until a goal has been scored or at the end of a period.

The primary responsibility for giving the signal for the re-entry of an excluded player or a substitute is with the defensive referee. However, the attacking referee may also assist in this regard and the signal of either referee shall be valid. If a referee suspects an improper re-entry or the goal judge signals such an improper re-entry, then the referee should first be satisfied that the other referee had not signalled the re-entry.

Before giving the signal for the re-entry of an excluded player or a substitute, the defensive referee should wait momentarily in case the attacking referee whistles to restore possession to the opponent’s team.

A change of possession does not occur merely because of the end of a period, but an excluded player or substitute shall be eligible to re-enter if the team wins the ball at the swim up at the start of the next period. If a player is excluded when the end of a period is signalled, the referees and the secretary shall ensure that the teams have the correct number of players before signalling for the restart.]

WP 21.4 For a player to leave the water or sit or stand on the steps or side of the pool during play, except in the case of accident, injury, illness or with the permission of a referee.

WP 21.5 To interfere with the taking of a free throw, goal throw or corner throw, including:
(a) intentionally to throw away or fail to release the ball to prevent the normal progress of the game;
(b) any attempt to play the ball before it has left the hand of the thrower.
[Note. A player is not to be penalised under this Rule if the player does not hear the whistle as a result of being under the water. The referees must determine if the actions of the player are intentional.
Interference with a throw may take place indirectly when the ball is hampered, delayed or prevented from reaching the player who is to take the throw, or it may occur when the execution of the throw is interfered with by an opponent blocking the direction of the throw (figure 13) or by disturbing the actual movement of the thrower (figure 14). For interference with a penalty throw, see also WP 21.16]

Figure 13 Figure 14

WP 21.6 To attempt to play or block a shot with two hands outside the 5 metre area.
[Note. If a defending player who is outside the 5 metre area raises two hands in an attempt to play or block a shot on a goal, the player shall be excluded.]

WP 21.7 To splash in the face of an opponent intentionally.
[Note. Splashing is frequently used as an unfair tactic but is often only penalised in the obvious situation when players are facing one another (see figure 15). However, it can also occur less obviously when a player produces a curtain of water with an arm, seemingly without deliberate intent, in an attempt to block the view of the opponent who is about to shoot at goal or to make a pass.
Figure 15

The punishment for intentionally splashing an opponent is exclusion under WP 21.7 or a penalty throw under WP 22.2 if the opponent is inside the 5 metre area and is attempting to shoot at goal. Whether to award a penalty throw or an exclusion is decided solely by the positioning and actions of the attacking player; whether the offending player is inside the 5 metre area or outside is not a decisive factor.]
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WP 21.8 To hold, sink or pull back an opponent who is not holding the ball. “Holding” is lifting, carrying or touching the ball, but does not include dribbling the ball.
[Note. The correct application of this Rule is very important both as to the presentation of the game and in arriving at a proper and fair result. The wording of the Rule is clear and explicit and can only be interpreted in one way: to hold (figure 16), sink (figure 17) or pull back (figure 18) an opponent who is not holding the ball is an exclusion foul. It is essential that referees apply this Rule correctly, without personal arbitrary interpretation, to ensure that the proper limits to rough play are not exceeded. In addition, referees must note that an infringement of WP 21.8 within the 5 metre area which prevents a probable goal must be punished by the award of a penalty throw.]
Figure 16
Figure 17 Figure 18

WP 21.9 To kick or strike an opponent intentionally or make disproportionate movements with that intent.
[Note. The offence of kicking or striking can take a number of different forms, including being committed by a player in possession of the ball or by an opposing player; possession of the ball is not a decisive factor. What is important is the action of the offending player, including if the player makes disproportionate movements in an attempt to kick or strike, even if the player fails to make contact.
One of the most serious acts of striking is elbowing backwards (figure 19), which can result in serious injury to the opponent. Similarly, serious injury can occur when a player intentionally heads back into the face of an opponent who is marking the player closely. In these circumstances, the referee would also be justified in punishing the offence under WP 21.11 (Brutality) rather than under WP 21.9]
Figure 19

WP 21.10 To be guilty of misconduct, including the use of unacceptable language, violent or persistent foul play, refuse obedience to or show disrespect for a referee or official, or behaviour against the spirit of the Rules and likely to bring the game into disrepute. The offending player shall be excluded from the remainder of the game, with substitution after the earliest occurrence referred to in WP 21.3.
[Note If a member of a team commits any offence mentioned in this Rule during the interval between periods, during a time out or prior to the restart of play after his team has scored a goal, the player shall be excluded from the remainder of the game and substitution shall be permitted when, after the interval pause, the excluded player’s team has taken possession of the ball (which means receiving control of the ball), or in the other situations, after the earliest occurrence referred to in WP 21.3]

WP 21.11 To commit an act of brutality (including kicking or striking or attempting to kick or strike with malicious intent) against an opponent or official, whether during play (including any stoppages or timeouts) or the intervals between periods of play. The offending player shall be excluded from the remainder of the game and a penalty throw awarded to the opposing team. The offending player may be substituted when four minutes of actual play have elapsed.
[Notes. This Rule shall also apply if an act of brutality occurs during the intervals between periods and a penalty throw shall be awarded. These provisions shall not apply, however, before the game has actually commenced.

In the case of brutality at any time by a substitute who is not in the water during the play, the offending player shall be excluded from the remainder of the game. The captain of the team shall be ordered to remove from the water a player of the captain’s choice and the team shall continue with one less player for four minutes. The player who has been removed can subsequently be used during the remainder of the game as one of the team’s remaining players in the water and no personal foul shall be awarded in relation to the player’s removal from the water.]

WP 21.12 For a player of each team to commit any of the following offences simultaneously before a free throw, goal throw, corner throw, penalty throw or neutral throw is taken:
WP 20.9 - to impede an opponent
WP 20.10 - to push or push off from an opponent
WP 21.4 to WP 21.11 - to commit an exclusion foul
Both players shall be excluded and the team in attack shall maintain possession of the ball. Players shall be excluded from the remainder of the game where the Rules so provide.
[Notes. Both players excluded under this Rule, shall be permitted to re-enter at the next earliest occurrence referred to in WP 21.3 or at the next change of possession.
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If the two players who have been excluded under this Rule are eligible to re-enter before they have reached their respective re-entry areas, the defensive referee may wave in each player as soon as they are ready to re-enter. The referee does not have to wait until both players are ready to re-enter.
The team in possession of the ball when the simultaneous fouls were committed shall restart the play by asking the free throw, goal throw, comer throw or penalty throw. In the case of a neutral throw, the referee shall restart the play in accordance with WP 18.]

WP 21.13 For a player of the team in possession to commit an offence under WP 21.4 to WP
21.11 (exclusion fouls) before a free throw, goal throw, corner throw or penalty throw is taken; except that:
(a) the player shall be excluded from the remainder of the game where the Rules so provide;
(b) if the offence is committed at the taking of a penalty throw, the penalty throw shall be maintained.

WP 21.14 For an excluded player to re-enter or a substitute to enter the field of play improperly, including:
(a) without having received a signal from the secretary or referee;
(b) from any place other than the player’s own re-entry area, except where the Rules provide for immediate substitution;
(c) by jumping or pushing off from the side or wall of the pool or field of play;
(d) by affecting the alignment of the goal.
If this offence is committed by a player of the team not in possession of the ball, the offending player shall be excluded and a penalty throw awarded to the opposing team.
If this offence is committed by a player of the team in possession of the ball, the offending player shall be excluded and a free throw awarded to the opposing team.

WP21.15 To interfere with the taking of a penalty throw. The offending player shall be excluded from the remainder of the game with substitution after the earliest occurrence referred to in WP 21.3 and the penalty throw shall be maintained or re-taken as appropriate.
[Note. The most common form of interference with a penalty throw is when an opponent aims a kick at the player taking the throw, just as the throw is about to be taken. It is essential for the referees to ensure that all players are at least 2 metres from the thrower, to prevent such interference taking place. The referee should also allow the defending team the first right to take position.]

WP 21.16 For the defending goalkeeper to fail to take up the correct position on the goal line at the taking of a penalty throw having been ordered once to do so by the referee. Another defending player may take the position of the goalkeeper but without the goalkeeper’s privileges or limitations.

WP 21.17 When a player is excluded, the exclusion period shall commence immediately when the ball has left the hand of the player taking the free throw or when the ball has been touched following a neutral throw.

WP 21.18 If an excluded player intentionally interferes with play, including affecting the alignment of the goal, a penalty throw shall be awarded to the opposing team and a further personal foul awarded against the excluded player. If the excluded player does not commence leaving the field of play almost immediately, the referee may deem this to be intentional interference under this Rule.

WP 21.19 In the event of the game continuing into extra time, the exclusion period of any excluded player shall also continue into the extra time. Personal fouls awarded during the periods of normal time shall also carry forward into extra time and any player excluded under the Rules from the remainder of the game shall not be permitted to take part in any periods of extra time.