New changes in water polo rules are in sight.
World Aquatics Technical Water Polo Committee proposed that the field of play at both the men’s and women’s World Championships and other international competitions for cadets (U16) and youth players (U18) should be 25×20 meters – five meters shorter than a field in which men play now.
The number of the players in the water (6 field players + goalkeeper on the team) would remain the same.
The World Aquatics Bureau will make the final decision, but according to the latest information, it’s likely that the Bureau would approve the proposal. Moreover, if the proposal is approved, it will be a step towards the change in the general rules, and all water polo competitions in all categories may be played in the shorter field very soon.
This rule has been tested in the World Aquatics (FINA at that time) competitions, among others, in the last few years. The 2015 World League was played in 25-meter-long pools.
Some water polo experts have long been advocating for this change because they believe it would make the game more exciting and faster-paced. By reducing the distance between the two goals, less time would be wasted on simply swimming from one to the other end of the pool. As it is, the middle of the court in water polo is usually uneventful, except for swimming for the ball at the beginning of the quarters.
