World Aquatics has officially approved a sweeping update to the water polo rulebook. These changes—some initially tested at the 2025 Water Polo World Cup—are now set to be fully implemented across all World Aquatics competitions, starting with the 2025 World Championships in Singapore.
The changes aim to standardize the men’s and women’s games, increase pace, streamline officiating, and improve player safety. Here’s a clear breakdown of what’s changing.
Background: From Controversy to Reform
In response to criticism over last year’s rushed rule changes, World Aquatics created a Water Polo Rules Committee to conduct a formal review. The process included:
- Internal meetings
- Data collection from federations
- Community consultation
- Testing of changes at the 2025 World Cup
After this review, the Committee proposed a package of reforms, which have now been ratified by the World Aquatics Bureau and communicated to national federations.
✅ Approved Rule Changes for 2025
Game Rules
1. Field of Play
- New dimensions: 25 x 20 meters (down from 30m length)
- Applies to both men’s and women’s competitions
2. Possession Times
- Shot clock extended to 28 seconds (was 25 seconds during World Cup testing)
- Applies to all initial possessions and resets
3. Second Possession Time
- After rebounds or exclusion fouls: 18 seconds
- Previously tested at 15 seconds during the World Cup
4. Team Composition
- 14 players per team (including 2 goalkeepers)
5. Halftime Break
- Extended from 3 to 5 minutes
6. Personal Fouls
- A player receiving 3 personal fouls is excluded but no longer required to sit in a separate area
7. Coach’s Challenge Protocol
- Coaches may now request a video review using:
- A green flag thrown into play, and
- The VAR square hand signal
- Timeout buttons or horns are no longer required
8. VAR Decision Time
- Referees must resolve VAR reviews and challenges within 2 minutes
9. Exclusion Rules
- Players leaving the pool during play will receive automatic exclusion, but substitution is allowed
- “Ducking” (submerging to gain advantage) now leads to exclusion
10. Restart Rules
- After a timeout, play must restart from midfield or behind
11. Substitution Rules
- Flying substitutions allowed, provided no player is already re-entering
- Injured or bleeding players must be immediately replaced
12. Penalty Shootout Conduct
- Goalkeepers warned (yellow card) after second excessive movement
- On third offense: excluded for one penalty shot
📺 Officiating & Protocol Enhancements
13. Challenge and VAR System
- Referees can use expanded in-game video reviews
- Coach-initiated challenges are now part of the official rulebook
- No post-game challenge requests allowed
14. Time-Wasting Definition
- Players can hold the ball, but must actively engage
- Non-engagement will result in a counterattack foul
15. Counter-Attack Obligations
- Second-closest defender must attempt to pursue the attacker
❌ Proposals Rejected
The following ideas were discussed but not approved:
- Direct shot from 6 meters with ball movement allowed – rejected
- Players with 3 fouls sitting on a separate bench – rejected as too complex
🔜 Still Under Discussion
Expected to be addressed in April 2025 (Podgorica meeting):
- Allowing draws in group stage matches (removing automatic penalty shootouts)
- Adding 4-minute overtime before shootouts in classification matches
- New World Cup competition format
- Public referee explanations of VAR decisions
🕒 Implementation Timeline
- All changes will be applied to World Aquatics events from mid-2025 onward
- Federations are encouraged to begin adapting immediately so teams and officials can prepare for the World Championships in Singapore
📣 Official Statement
Brent Nowicki, Executive Director of World Aquatics, stated:
“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.”
🔍 Summary of Key Adjustments (At a Glance)
| Area | Old Rule | New Rule (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Field Length | 30m | 25m |
| Shot Clock (1st Possession) | 30s (M), 30s (W) | 28s (both) |
| Shot Clock (2nd Possession) | 20s (M), 20s (W) | 18s (both) |
| Halftime Break | 3 minutes | 5 minutes |
| VAR Review Time | N/A | 2 minutes max |
| Coach’s Challenge Signal | Timeout button/horn | Green flag + VAR hand signal |
| Player Exclusion (3 fouls) | Must sit in special area | Can remain on bench |
📘 What It Means for Water Polo
These changes reflect a major step toward:
- Harmonizing the men’s and women’s game
- Speeding up play
- Clarifying gray areas in officiating
- Improving fan experience through VAR and challenges
Water polo fans, players, and officials can expect a faster, fairer, and more modern game in 2025 and beyond.
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