Water Polo: More rule changes are coming up by FINA

More rule changes are coming up by FINA as part of the big set of test rules, implemented and applied during its 2015 World Junior Championships and even last season's men's World League. This week the FINA Bureau Members were informed that following mail vote held under that same members 'the majority of the FINA Bureau Members approved the FINA TWPC recommendation to test three new rules during the FINA World Men’s Youth Water Polo Championships 2016 in Podgorica (MNE) and the FINA World Women’s Youth Water Polo Championships 2016 in Auckland (NZL).' 

The three new test rules are:

1.    Reduction in possession time from 30 seconds to 25 seconds due faster transition from defence to attack;

2.    Reduction in exclusion time from 20 seconds to 15 seconds with the purpose to make the game faster; and

3.    That team rosters be 11 players with 2 reserves that may be used in other games of the tournament.

It will mean a further attempt in testing and making a change in worldwide water polo in order to get the game to be more dynamic, less physical and easier to watch from the stands. The last world junior championships have proven to be a fruitful ground for testing the initial set of new rules which included just 6 players in the water, men playing on a 25m-length pitch and with a women-sized ball.

The 2016 World Men's Youth Championships will be played from August 26 - September 3, 2016. The World Women's Youth Championships are scheduled to take place December 5-11, 2016.