ENHANCING YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME

Below is an extract from Water Polo New Zealand website, please pass onto all club members especially those who referee.

Today - Now there is no excuse to argue the referee's call, after all the referee has the final say!!!

These 14 philosophies were emphasized during the series of recent FINA Water Polo Schools for Referees.

1. The latest philosophy encourages referees to promote movement and speed in the game.

2. The privilege should always be with the attacking team.

3. The central aim is to allow the attack to continue, but not to increase its success.

4. If one referee calls a goal throw and the other a corner, the corner throw stands. This is to advantage of the attack.

5. Referees should assist play, not influence or direct it.

6. The referee should be aware of the whole pool, and not just a section of play. This is to avoid any unnecessary whistles.

7. Whichever referee sees the major foul, and is aware that calling this does not advantage the defending team, should call it.

8. There is no set section for a referee; they work as a team.

9. Whistle only when necessary. Each whistle stops the clock and therefore reduces the attacking team's momentum over the 35 second possession.

10. Only call a minor foul when without it, the defending team would be advantaged.

11. It is impossible to delay a major foul call. Try to avoid late calls. Call an exclusion foul the first time it is seen, not the second or third time it is repeated.

12. Contra foul against C/F should not be the "easy" or "alibi" call for an indecisive referee. It should be called only when obvious.

13. Any technical error by referees or the table, should not penalize players or influence the game's outcome.

14. When signalling numbers, referees should make these clear first to the players, then the coach, then the table.