Inner-tube Water Polo

Where: Conlan Center Swimming Pool, all equipment provided except bathing suits.  Click here to see map of campus.
When: Spring 2008! Click here to see our monthly calendars highlighting when Intramural events will be held.  Click here to find out how to reserve the Conlan Center Pool for your own event.
How: Teams play with six (6) players in the water at a time, including the goaltender. Substitutions may be made only after goals, between periods or in the case of injury.

Length of Game

Each game will consist of two (2), 20-minute halves. Teams will switch sides during the break at halftime which will last approximately five minutes. The clock runs continuously during play. It does not stop for goals.

Equipment/Referees

General rules of play for Inner-Tube Water Polo are as follows:

1. Goals are scored whenever the ball hits any part of the front of the beach chair acting as goal.
2. Play begins with all players holding one hand on their respective endline. The ball is then tossed into the center of the referee, followed by a starting whistle. Players may then paddle to the ball to gain possession.
3. Players must remain seated in or lying flat across their inner-tubes at all times. If a player falls from his/her inner-tube, he/she may not touch the ball until he/she returns to his/her inner-tube. The ball may never come to rest in the lap of a player or on the inside edge of the inner-tube against a player's body. Violating this rule results in the opponents’ possession of the ball at the spot of the violation. Players may advance the ball by passing it or by paddling with one hand while holding the ball in the other. The ball may be tossed ahead and paddled after at any time, and the ball can be dragged by hand while resting on the water at any time. The ball also may be caught and held in two hands by any player.
4. Opponents attempt to gain control of the ball by intercepting passes, blocking shots, grasping a loose ball in the water or knocking a ball out of the hand of an opponent. Defensive play also consists of inner-tube to inner-tube bumping.
5. Players may not contact another player or his/her inner-tube with a hand or arm. Players may not kick an opponent's inner-tube, either. Violating either of these rules results in a foul being called. If a player is called for a foul, he/she is removed from the pool and his/her team will play short-handed until a goal is scored by either team.
6. If a ball leaves the playing area, the opponent of the team which caused the ball to go out-of-bound will take possession at the spot where the ball went out-of-bounds.
7. Following a goal, the team which was scored upon puts the ball in play by having one player in the center of the pool and all other players in their defensive half of the pool. The ball is then passed backward when the official's whistle sounds and play begins.
8. Goaltenders may use any part of their body to stop a ball from hitting the goal, but still must remain in their inner-tube.
9. Any other rule not specifically addressed will be interpreted along the lines of normal water polo competition.