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Flipper Ball is the junior version of Water Polo, it is a non-contact sport that is played in a pool.

We are putting together a league for term 2 but we need your support - we need players & if there is any interest from Umpires / parents learning to umpire or coach then please let us know.

RULES:

A team consists of 7 players in the water at one time- 1 goalie and 6 field players.

A team can have up to 6 substitutes (but we recommend 3) who can either be

interchanged after a goal has been scored and before play has started again OR

at any time from their corner of the pool, but only when the player being replaced

has reached his/her corner of the pool, so as to ensure there are only 6 field

players in play per team at all times.

2. Game Duration

A game is made up of 2 halves of up to 10 minutes each with teams switching

ends at half time. The break at half time is approximately 1 minute.

3. Starting Play

To start the game, players line up along their respective goal line. At the referee’s

whistle, the referee drops the ball in the middle of the pool and players move to

the centre line. Position is granted to the team who reaches the ball first. The first

pass must be backwards to a team mate. (Refer to Official Hand Signal- Fig. 7).

4. Goal

A goal is scored when the whole ball crosses the line of the front 2 posts (the ball

does not need to touch the back of the net). The ball carrier can only shoot when

they are in the attacking half of the court. It is not permissible to shoot from one’s

own half. (Referee to Officials Hand Signal- Fig. 1)

5. After a Goal

To start play after a goal is scored, players from each team must return to their

own half. The ball starts at halfway with a player from the team who did not score

the goal. On the referee’s whistle, the player with the ball must pass backwards

to a team mate and then the game will continue. 

6. Corner Throw

A corner throw (taken from beside the red 2 metre cone) will be awarded if the

ball is knocked out of play by a defending player or goalie.

7. Free Throw Infringements

Minor foul infringements below will result in a free throw being awarded by the

referee. The free throw must be taken from where the foul occurred or an area

not closer to the attacking goal of the team awarded the foul. The player taking

the free throw cannot shoot a goal after receiving a foul and defenders cannot

interfere with the taking of the free throw. 

All of the infringements below will result in a free throw being awarded by the

referee.

• A player cannot contact the ball with 2 hands (exception being the

goalie)

• A player cannot take the ball under the surface of the water

• A player cannot walk or run with the ball

• A player cannot hit the ball with a closed fist

• A player cannot swim on or over an opponent’s legs

• A defensive player cannot contact an attacking player

• An offensive player cannot fend away a defensive player

• Offside play

8.Major Foul

Major foul infringements will result in a free throw awarded to the attacking team

by the referee and the defending player excluded to his/her team’s corner of the

pool for a period of either 20 seconds or when the referee signals the player back

into the court of play. (Refer to Officials Hand Signals- Fig. 4-5, 8-13).

9.Exclusion Infringements

Aggressive play and use of abusive language are prohibited in the game of Flippa

Ball and the penalty will be exclusion for the remainder of the game with a

substitute entering play on signal from the referee (aggression is defined as

deliberately striking or attempting to strike a fellow player). (Refer to Officials

Hand Signals – Fig. 4-5, 8-13).

10. Team

Players not in game are to sit on the team bench or designated bench area.

Players are not to wear items such as jewellery, goggles, glasses or anything that

could cause harm or injury to another player or yourself.

11. Coaches

During the game coaches must be situated in the corner of the pool where their

team is located and can only move between that corner of the pool (up to the 2m

cone) and the goal that his/her team is defending.

12. One Hand Only

Players can use only one hand to catch, pass, shoot or defend the ball. The

exception to this is the goalie, who may use both hands. (Refer to Officials Hand

Signal – Fig 16).

13. No Ball = Walk; Ball = Swim or Pass

The pool is shallow, allowing player to stand on the bottom of the pool. Player are permitted to walk along the bottom if they do not have the ball. However, if in possession of the ball the player must swim or pass.

14. Ball Under

A player cannot take the ball under the surface of the water. Note that the player

whose hand is closest to the ball will be the player deemed to have taken the ball

under. (Refer to Officials Hand Signal- Fig. 14).

15. No Contact

A player cannot swim on or over an opponent’s legs, a defensive player cannot

contact an attacking player, an offensive player cannot fend away a defensive

player – if this occurs, a minor foul/ free throw is awarded. NO Splashing, sinking,

holding or pulling back- or a major foul/ exclusion for 20 seconds will be enforced.

No aggressive play (striking or attempting to strike another player) or use of

abusive language – this results in exclusion for the remainder of the game with a

substitute at the referee’s signal. (Refer to Officials Hand Signal – Fig. 2, 4-5, 8-

13).

16. Off- Side

An attacker will be deemed offside if the attacker enters the attacking 2 metre

zone if they are not holding or following the ball. If the ball carrier enters the 2-

metre zone, other attackers are then allowed to enter as long as they remain

behind the line of the ball carrier. A goalie is deemed off-side if they enter their

attacking half. (Refer to Officials Hand Signals- Fig 15)

17. Neutral Throw

When 2 players simultaneously gain possession of the ball, the referee will signal

a neutral throw. The 2 players involved face the referee, close to the side of the

pool, same side as their goalie, the referee then blows the whistle and throws the

ball high in the middle of the 2 players, who attempt to gain possession by jumping

and tapping the ball to the player on their team. (Refer to Officials Hand Signal –

Fig 3).

18. Holding the ball under the elbow when tackled

Holding the ball under the elbow (or in the crook of the arm) when tackled by a

defender, is a foul with possession being awarded to the opposing team. (Refer

to Officials Hand Signal – Fig.17)

19. Spectator or Coach Behaviour

The league coordinator will have the right to warn coaches or spectators about

abusive behaviour and, if the behaviour continues, request the person to leave

the pool facility.