Water Polo Field of Play

A standard (championship) course is 30m x 20m for men and 25m x 20m for women. The depth should be at least 1.8m. Despite these regulations, many non-standard (smaller) courses are in use.

The field of play is segmented into zones marked by colored markings along the side of the pool:

• Goal line – white
  A goal counts only when the ball goes completely across the goal line and into the goal (close does not count); the ball is out of bounds if it goes completely across the goal line and not into the goal
• 2-meter line – red
  No offensive player is allowed to swim inside of the 2-meter line unless he/she has possession of the ball
• 5-meter line – yellow
  If a defensive player commits a foul inside of the 5-meter line, which prevents a “probable goal,” the defensive player is charged with a penalty (personal) foul and the opposing team is awarded a penalty throw (a “5-meter”). If an offensive player is fouled outside of the 5-meter line, the offensive player may pick up the ball and take an immediate shot at the opponent’s goal (i.e., two players do not have to touch the ball before a goal can be scored)
• Distinctive marks shall be provided on both sides of the field of play to denote the
  following:
  (a) white marks – goal line and half distance line
  (b) red marks – 2 metres from goal lines
  (c) yellow marks 6 metres from goal lines
  (d) a red marker shall be placed 5 metres from goal lines to indicate the point from
  which a penalty shot must be taken
  The sides of the field of play from the goal line to the 2 metre line shall be marked in
  red; from the 2 metre line to the 6 metre line shall be marked in yellow and from the
  6 metre line to the half distance line shall be marked in green.
• Center line – white
  Mid-pool: After each goal is scored, play is re-started at mid-pool; the goalkeepers are not permitted to go across the mid-pool line.
• A red mark shall be placed at each end of the field of play, 2 metres from the corner
  of the field of play on the side opposite to the official table, to denote the exclusion re-entry area.