WP5 Teams & Substitutes
WP 5.1 Each team shall consist of a maximum of thirteen players: eleven field players and two goalkeepers. 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. Five reserves may be used as substitutes and one reserve goalkeeper who may be used only as a substitute goalkeeper. A team playing with less than seven players shall not be required to have a goalkeeper.
WP 5.1.1 For Olympic Games only: Each team shall consist of a maximum of eleven players: ten field players and one goalkeeper. 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. Four reserves may be used as substitutes. One of the reserves may also 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.
WP 5.2 All players not in the game at that time, together with the coaches and officials with the exception of the head coach, shall sit on the team bench and shall not move away from the bench from the commencement of play, except during the intervals between periods or during timeouts. The head coach of the attacking team shall be allowed to move to the 6 metre line at any time. Teams shall only change ends and benches at half time. The team benches shall both be situated on the side opposite to the official table.
WP 5.3 The captains shall be playing members of their respective teams and each shall be responsible for the good conduct and discipline of his team.
WP 5.4 Players shall wear non-transparent costumes or costumes with a separate undergarment and before taking part in a game shall remove any articles likely to cause injury.
WP 5.5 Players shall not have grease, oil or any substance on the body which might provide an advantage. If a referee ascertains before the start of play that such a substance has been used, the referee shall order it to be removed immediately. The start of play shall not be delayed for the substance to be removed. If the offence is detected after the play has started, the offending player shall be excluded from the remainder of the game and a substitute permitted to enter the field of play immediately from the team’s exclusion re-entry area.
WP 5.6 At any time in the game, a player may be substituted by leaving the field of play at the team’s designated substitution areas. 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. Substitution from the designated lateral substitution area is allowed when both players, the exiting player and the substitute, are in the water, outside of the field of play and touch hands above the water. If a goalkeeper is substituted under this Rule, it must only be by the substitute goalkeeper. If the team has less than seven players, the team shall not be required to have a goalkeeper. No substitution shall be made under this Rule between the time a referee awards a penalty throw and the taking of the throw.
[NOTE: In the event that the goalkeeper and substitute goalkeeper are not entitled or able to participate, a team playing with seven players shall be required to play with an alternative goalkeeper who shall wear the goalkeeper’s cap. During a game should a team have no more substitutes apart from the substitute goalkeeper either the goalkeeper or substitute goalkeeper may play as a field player].
- UPDATED 2023 – WP5.6 and WP22.2 At any flying or rolling substitution, including in the re-entry area and swapping an excluded player, the two players must visibly high-five each other while in the re-entry area.
WP 5.6.1 For Olympic Games only: At any time in the game, a player may be substituted by leaving the field of play at the team’s designated substitution areas. 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. Substitution in the designated lateral substitution area is allowed after touching hands above the water when both players, the exiting player and the substitute, are in the water and outside of the field of play. If the team has less than seven players the team shall not be required to have a goalkeeper. No substitution shall be made under this Rule between the time a referee awards a penalty throw and the taking of the throw.
[NOTE: In the event that the goalkeeper is not entitled or able to participate, a team playing with seven players shall be required to play with an alternative goalkeeper who shall wear a red cap with the number he was wearing as a field player.]
WP 5.7 A substitute may enter the field of play from any place: (a) during the intervals between periods of play; (b) after a goal has been scored; (c) during a timeout; (d) to replace a player who is bleeding or injured.
WP 5.8 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.
WP 5.9 A goalkeeper who has been replaced by a substitute may not play in any position other than goalkeeper.
WP 5.10 Should a goalkeeper retire from the game through any medical reason, the referees shall allow an immediate substitution by the substitute goalkeeper.
WP5.11 (New rule from 2023) A player leaving the field of play from the wrong place can come back into play only if waved in by the referee, or after a goal, time out or at the start of the next period.