Exclusion Rule

PLEASE READ - ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

The re-entry area is located nearest to the player’s own goal line outside the field of play, near the team’s bench and opposite of the scoring table. However, it is always best to ask the referees before the start of the game for the exact location.

An excluded player shall move to the re-entry area without leaving the water. An excluded player who leaves the water shall be deemed guilty of an offense called Misconduct, in which the player is no longer eligible to participate. On reaching the
re-entry area, the excluded player shall be required to visibly rise to the surface of the water before the player (or a substitute) shall be permitted to re-enter.

The excluded player or a substitute shall be permitted to re-enter the field of play after the earliest occurrence of one of the following:
(a) when 20 seconds of actual play have elapsed, at which time the secretary shall raise the appropriate flag provided that the excluded player has reached the reentry area;
(b) when a goal has been scored;
(c) when the excluded player’s team has retaken possession of the ball during actual play. Once the player has reached the exclusion area, the player may enter the field of play without any signal from the table or the referee.
(d) when the excluded player’s team is awarded a free throw or goal throw, the referee’s signal to award the throw qualifies as the re-entry signal, provided that the excluded player has reached the re-entry area.

Once the excluded player is eligible to re-enter the field of play, the player shall not jump or push off from the side or wall of the pool or field of play, as well as affect the alignment of the goal. Improper re-entry will lead to another exclusion or possibly a penalty shot.

At our workouts the re-entry area is away from the side the ref is standing.