The World Aquatics Bureau has approved changes to the water polo rules. These new rules are estimated to be published by the end of May, which means that they will be implemented in all World Aquatics competitions in 2025, including the World Championships in Singapore.
The previous significant change to the water polo rules occurred in November. The 2025 World Cup was held according to those updated regulations, in which the key changes were the possession time and the dimensions of the field of play. The field was shortened from 30 meters to 25 meters. In the Men’s World Cup, the time for the first possession was reduced from 30 to 25 seconds, while the time for the second possession (such as during a man-up attack) was cut from 20 to 15 seconds. For the Women’s World Cup, the initial possession time remained 30 seconds, as it had been until the end of 2024.
After analyzing the World Cup games, World Aquatics changed some details. The field’s dimensions will remain at 25 by 20 meters, and the team will consist of 14 players (two goalkeepers and 12 field players), as in the World Cup, but the possession times will be modified. The halftime break will be prolonged to five minutes.
World Aquatics has sent a letter to all national federations outlining the key changes to the rules that were in force during the World Cup.
Key changes to water polo rules
Possession Time
-The maximum ball possession time has been extended from twenty-five (25) seconds to twenty-eight (28) seconds for both men’s and women’s competitions.
– For the avoidance of doubt, all possession clock “resets” will similarly be extended to twenty-eight (28) seconds.
Second Possession Time
– If the ball rebounds to the same team following a shot on net, the maximum ball possession time shall be eighteen (18) seconds rather than fifteen (15) seconds.
– When the ball is put into play following an exclusion foul, the maximum ball possession time shall be eighteen (18) seconds rather than 15 seconds.
This rule change is applicable to both men’s and women’s competitions.
Break Interval Timing
-The break interval between the second and third periods has been extended from three (3) minutes to five (5) minutes.
Third Personal Foul
– There is no longer a requirement that a player, upon receiving a third personal foul, must sit in a specific designated area near the bench.
Coach’s Challenge Review
– The referee(s) shall have a maximum time-limit of two (2) minutes to review the footage and make a decision.
Signalling a Coach’s Challenge
– To signal a Coach’s Challenge, a coach must (i) throw the designated green flag into the Field of Play and (ii) make the VAR square-signal hand gesture (the motion of creating a square with one’s index fingers).
– There is no longer a requirement for a coach to press a timeout button or use a horn to signal a Coach’s Challenge.
In the letter sent to the federations, Brent Nowicki, Executive Director, emphasized:
“Following the 2025 Water Polo World Cup, we are pleased to present future changes to the World Aquatics Water Polo Competition Regulations, as recently approved by the World Aquatics Bureau. These rules are the result of collaborative efforts by the World Aquatics Water Polo working group, which has been actively engaging with the water polo community over the past few months. These changes aim to enhance the overall speed and efficiency of the sport, while also improving player safety and ensuring fairness at all levels of competition.”
World Aquatics asked all national federations to adopt new rules as soon as possible.
In our previous article on this topic, you can learn more about the process of changing the rules and the proposals made by the Rules Committee.
