INNERTUBE WATER POLO

CAPTAIN’S MEETINGTTU INTRAMURAL SPORTS OFFICE

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Eligibility › Students

– Undergraduate and graduate students must be currently enrolled at least half time (six hours) to be eligible for participation.

– Alumni, spouses, & other dependents are not eligible and cannot participate in Intramural activities.

– Current varsity athletes cannot compete in their sport or related sport.– Former varsity athletes cannot participate in their sport or related sport for one

calendar year (365 days) after their official affiliation with the University team has ended.

– Professional athletes cannot play their sport or related sport for a period of five years after their retirement.

› Faculty/Staff – Currently employed faculty and staff may participate in IM events.– Adjunct faculty may participate during the semester of employment.– Staff associated with University affiliated organizations may participate.

› Officially University recognized organizations are listed on the Tennessee Tech Student Affairs page.

Registration › Team Captain

– The liaison (i.e. point of contact) between the team and the Intramural Sports Office› Captain’s Responsibilities

– In short, the Captain is responsible for the behavior and actions of the players, the team’s spectators, and himself/herself.

› Mandatory Captain’s Quiz– The Captain’s Quiz should be completed during the captain’s registration process.– The Captain’s Quiz should be completed before the first game– The captain may be barred from participation until the quiz is completed.

› Team Names– Subject to approval by the Intramural Sports Office

› Roster Information– The captain is responsible for an accurate and up-to-date roster.– Roster additions should occur before 2:00 PM on the day of the scheduled contest.– Individuals not listed on the official roster will not be allowed to participate.

Team Availability› Your availability should be

completed at the time of registration.

› Please do not change your availability after the schedule has been published.

› Failure to complete your availability before the publishing of the season schedule may result in game time conflicts.

› You will need to indicate both your (1) Regular Season & (2) Post-season availability on IMLEAGUES.

Policies and Procedures› Eagle Card Policy

– All participants should be prepared to present their Eagle Cards when signing in for each contest.

– If a participant cannot present his or her Eagle Card when asked, he or she cannot play.

– If a participant attempts to sign in using the Eagle Card of another individual, the Eagle Card will be confiscated, and the participant will not be allowed to play.

Policies and Procedures › Proper Attire

– Pool appropriate clothing and equipment is required for participation.

– All attire and equipment is subject to the approval of Intramural Sports staff.

– Any clothing or equipment that is deemed unsafe or illegal must be removed prior to competition.

– Intramural staff reserves the right to ask participants to remove or conceal clothing that, in the opinion of IM staff, displays offensive or demeaning language or imagery.

Policies and Procedures › Pets

– Pets are not allowed in the Natatorium.› Exception: Service animals with proper

paperwork.› Rules

– TTU Intramural Inner-Tube Water Polo rules were authored after reviewing the rules of other member schools of the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA).

– When appropriate, rules are modified and/or created to level the playing field and foster a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants.

Defaults, Forfeits, & Grace Periods › Defaults

– An unplayed game without penalty to either team. To receive a default, the team captain must notify (by e-mail or in person) the Intramural Sports Office by 2:00 PM on the day of the contest.

› Forfeits – Two types:

1. Failing to field a team for an intramural contest without contacting the IM Sports Office. 2. Being assessed three yellow cards during a single match.

– A single forfeiture renders a team ineligible for the postseason.– Teams may be assessed a $40.00 fee for each forfeit.

› Grace Periods – If at least one team member has signed in at game time, the team will be

granted a five-minute grace period. – At the conclusion of the grace period, the team shall forfeit the match if they

do not have at least five members present.

Divisions of Competition› Leagues

– Men’s Open– Women’s Open– Co-Recreational– IFC– PHC

Sportspersonship Rating System › The sportspersonship rating system serves to

assess a team’s attitude and behavior throughout the regular season and postseason.

› Actions and behaviors before, during, and after the contest are included in a team’s sportspersonship score.

› The team captain is responsible for educating his/her team and spectators about the sportspersonship system.

Sportspersonship System: Ratings & Criteria

Rating Criteria5 - Excellent Players fully cooperate with Intramural Sports staff and opposing team members.

Spectators support their team in a positive manner. Team captain respectively addresses officials. The team is an exemplary model for other teams.

4 - Good Winning Team of a Forfeited Game. Team members verbally complain about some calls or show some dissent. Their actions may warrant a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike

conduct penalty), but they do not receive a penalty.3 - Average Both Teams for a Defaulted Game.

Team constantly complains to IM staff or the opposing team. The team captain exhibits no control over his/her team, spectators, and himself/herself.

Their actions result in a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.)

Teams that receive a conduct penalty cannot receive higher than a “3” rating. The team that has one ejection or two conduct penalties will not receive higher than a “3” rating.

2 – Below Average Team constantly complains to IM and the opposing team. The team captain exercises no control over anyone. Teams that receive one ejection and one conduct warning or three conduct warnings shall forfeit the

contest and receive a rating of “2.”1 - Unacceptable A Team Forfeits a Game.

The entire team and spectators are non-cooperative. The team captain is combative and unhelpful. The team that receives two ejections or four conduct warnings during a game shall forfeit the game

and may forfeit the entire season.

Rating Criteria

5 - Excellent Players fully cooperate with Intramural Sports staff and opposing team members. Spectators support their team in a positive manner. Team captain respectively addresses officials. The team is an exemplary model for other teams.

4 - Good

Winning Team of a Forfeited Game. Winning Team for a Defaulted Game. Team members verbally complain about some calls or show some dissent. Their actions may warrant a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike

conduct penalty), but they do not receive a penalty.

3 - Average

Defaulting Team for a Defaulted Game. Team constantly complains to IM staff or the opposing team. The team captain exhibits no control

over his/her team, spectators, and himself/herself. Their actions result in a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike conduct

penalty.) Teams that receive a conduct penalty cannot receive higher than a “3” rating. The team that has one ejection or two conduct penalties will not receive higher than a “3” rating.

2 – Below Average Team constantly complains to IM and the opposing team. The team captain exercises no control over anyone. Teams that receive one ejection and one conduct warning or three conduct warnings shall forfeit the

contest and receive a rating of “2.”

1 - Unacceptable

A Team Forfeits a Game. The entire team and spectators are non-cooperative. The team captain is combative and unhelpful. The team that receives two ejections or four conduct warnings during a game shall forfeit the game

and may forfeit the entire season.

Postseason Eligibility› The league will consist of a pool play

section followed by a postseason tournament.

› Team records, results, and overall sportsmanship rating will be considered final at noon on the day following the end of the regular season.

› Team captains should notify the IM Sports Office of any errors before the deadline.

› Please note that postseason eligibility and inclusion is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. weather, time constraints etc.).

Postseason Eligibility › To be eligible for the postseason, each team

must satisfy the following criteria: – Zero forfeits– An average sportspersonship rating of a 3.0 or

better› Once a team meets all of the above

requirements, postseason qualifications may vary by division.

› For the IFC and PHC divisions, all teams will be advanced to the postseason tournament.

› For the Men’s and Women’s Open divisions, the top team(s) in each pool shall automatically advance to the postseason tournament.

Postseason Eligibility › The following criteria will determine pool

rank: 1. Win/Loss Record 2. Head-to-Head Match Up 3. Point Differential4. Sportspersonship Rating 5. Coin Toss

All Points Competition › Divisions

– IFC– PHC– Men’s Open– Women’s Open– Individual (Men’s & Women’s)

› IFC, PHC, Men’s Open, & Women’s Open Divisions– Points are award based on participation,

performance, and sportspersonship› Individual Division

– The male and female participant of the year will be selected based on participation, sportspersonship, team/individual success, and overall enthusiasm and passion for TTU Intramural Sports.

INNERTUBE WATER POLO BASICS

Player Equipment› Jerseys/Shirts

– Shirts are not required for men.– Women must wear pool appropriate attire.

› Clothing is considered too revealing or inappropriate must be removed or covered.

› Athletic Shorts or Pants– Clothing should allow freedom of movement.

› Hats– No billed hats or any headwear with knots– Headbands, knit or stocking caps, and swimming headgear is

allowed.› Footwear

– Shoes and socks cannot be worn in the pool.– Footwear designed for use in the pool may be worn.

› No Jewelry!– Watches, rings, and necklaces can result in injuries to players.– Religious and medical jewelry is allowed. It needs to be taped to

the body or placed inside the shirt or jersey.

The Game› Players

– Seven players are allowed in the lane at one time.

– Six players are required to avoid a forfeit.– If a team has seven or more players,

seven players must start the game.› Injuries and/or disqualifications may reduce the

number of eligible players to lower than seven.› The Ball & Inner-tubes

– The Intramural Sports Office will provide the ball and inner-tubes for play.

The Game: Timing

› Two ten minute (10:00) halves– The clock will run continuously unless

stopped due to team and official timeouts.

› Five minute (5:00) halftime› Each team shall receive two (2)

timeouts per game.– During a live ball, the team in control may

only call a timeout.– Timeouts may also be called after a goal.

The Game: Overtime

› Overtime will only be played during the postseason.

› During the postseason, a shootout and, if necessary, a Golden Goal procedure will be used to determine a winner.

The Game: In Play & Out of Play› The edges of the pool and the boundary line are out

of play.› When the ball touches or is touched by a person or

object outside the court boundaries, the ball is dead.

› The ball is out of bounds if it hits the edge of the pool and bounces back into the lane.

› The ball is out of bounds if it travels over a goal or lands behind a goal.

The Game: Scoring› Each goal is worth one point.› A goal is scored when a legal

shot from outside the goal box completely crosses the goal line.

› A goal is not scored in the following situations:– A goal is taken inside the goal box.– The player falls out of his or her

inner tube before the ball crosses the goal line.

– The player commits any infraction, personal foul, or major foul while attempting to score.

PLAYING THE GAME

Opening Drop› Players for both teams will line up

at the back wall of opposite sides.› The official will blow the whistle

and drop the ball into the middle of the pool.

› The players will then propel themselves toward the ball.

› The possession arrow determines which team receives the ball in certain situations.– Held balls– Throw-in at the beginning of the

second half– The ball becomes dead when player

and team control does not exist.

Ball Control› A player has control in

the following situations:– Pushing the ball in the

water– Holding it with one or two

hands, between their knees, or against the body.

– Resting the ball in their laps

› A player cannot hold the ball completely under the surface of the pool.

Face-Off– When two opposing players have

simultaneous control of the ball, the official shall stop play.

– The official shall drop the ball between the two players.

– Other players must remain two yards away from the players involved in the face-off.

– When team control or possession cannot be determined, the official shall call a face-off between two opposing players. Any player currently in the game may participate in the face-off.

Game Clocks› Backcourt Clock

– While the ball is in the backcourt, a team has twenty (20) seconds to advance the ball past the half-court line.

› Shot Clock– In their frontcourt, a team has

twenty (20) seconds to take a legitimate shot on the goal.

Free Throw› A free throw is an uninhibited

pass to an open teammate.› A free throw is awarded to the

offended team near the spot of the foul or infraction.

› A goal cannot be scored by the thrower.

› The thrower has five seconds to release the ball.

› The defense must give the thrower three feet of space until the ball is released.

Substitutions

› Both teams may substitute during timeouts and after a goal is scored.

› During a free throw, the team awarded the throw may substitute a player.

› No team may substitute on a penalty throw.

Delay of Game› No player may deliberately hold

the ball or perform any other action to delay the game.

› If being guarded by an opponent, a player has five seconds to pass or make an attempted shot.

› For the first offense, the official may warn the player or team.

› For all subsequent offenses, the opposing team shall be a free throw closest to the spot of the penalty.

Goal Box Restrictions› The goalkeeper is the only player allowed in the

goal box.› It is a violation for a player’s inner tube or body to

break the plane of the goal box. – Exception: Defensive players may enter their own goal

box to retrieve a ball that is out of the goalkeeper's reach› During play, the goalkeeper may not leave the goal

box area.› The goalkeeper may not leave his/her tube in an

attempt to block a shot.– If the official judges that the ball would have entered the

goal without the illegal action of the goalkeeper, the official shall award a goal to the opposing team.

› Once the goalkeeper gains possession of the ball, he/she will have five seconds to release the ball.

› The goalkeeper may never pass the ball beyond the mid-pool line.

Fouls & Misconduct› Infractions

– Infractions are minor violations that result in a free throw.

– Infractions do not count as team fouls.› Personal Fouls

– Personal fouls count towards the team foul total.– A player that receives five personal fouls is

disqualified for the reminder of the contest.– Personal fouls committed in the penalty area shall

always result in a penalty throw.› Major Fouls

– The offending player shall be ejected from the contest and shall leave the Natatorium.

– A penalty throw will be awarded shall be awarded for each major foul.

– A team that received three major fouls shall forfeit the contest.

Fouls & Misconduct   

Team Fouls   

One – Four Five & More

FOUL TYPE

Infractions Infractions do not count toward team foul total

Personal FoulsOutside Penalty Area: Free

ThrowInside Penalty Area: Penalty

ThrowPenalty Throw

Major Fouls A penalty throw is awarded for all major fouls

Co-Recreational Modifications› Legal Team Ratios

– A co-recreational team may never have more males than females in the lane.

– A co-recreational team must have at least one male.Number of players Male to Female Ratio

Six Players 3:3, 2:4, or 1:5Five Players 2:3 or 1:4Four Players 2:2 or 1:3

› Scoring– Each goal scored by a female shall be worth two points.– During a shootout, all goals shall be worth one point.

› Substitutions– All substitutions must maintain one of the aforementioned legal male to female ratios.