Duration of games

• Eight minute run time quarters. 

• The final one minute of the 4th quarter will be played in “stop time”. 

• 2-minute break between every quarter.

Time-outs

•  One 60-second timeout per team during all matches.

 

Rules

• Tournament will be conducted using the rules introduced in 2022 (details below):

1. For minor fouls outside of 6-metres, players may shoot without hesitation/faking. If no shot is taken, the player must release the ball from hand, then play becomes live, which includes shooting/dribbling toward the net to shoot.

2. Players taking a 2-metre throw may shoot or dribble then shoot.

3. Substitutions may be made on-the-fly from the pool side on a team’s bench side of the pool, up to the halfway line. During an on-the-fly substitution, the incoming player must enter the water from behind the goal line and may not enter the field of play until the outgoing player has fully left the field of play and the two players have exchanged a high five. The outgoing player must swim behind the goal line before exiting the water.

4.  Goalies are permitted to cross half.

5. Standard shot clock rule of 30 seconds per possession shall apply.

6. After a shot, if the attacking team maintains possession, the shot clock will reset to 20-seconds.

7. An exclusion foul results in a 20 second penalty. The player may return immediately if the opposing team scores, if their team regains possession, or once the 20 seconds have expired.

8. The new 2-metre area will be in effect- offensive players may enter the 2-metre line as long as they are outside the cones set up behind the goal.​

 

Ties

• During the round-robin stage, games that are tied at the end of regulation will remain tied, with no shootout or overtime played. 

• Rankings will be made by counting:

  • 2 points per win

  • 1 point per tie

  • 0 points per loss

  • 0 points per forfeit

• In playoff games, any match that ends in a tie after regulation time will be decided by a shootout, with each team selecting three players to take alternating 5-meter shots.

 

Tie Breaking Rule

• At the conclusion of the round-robin, if teams are tied, the following tie breaking process will be used:

1. The team that won the game between the tied teams will be placed ahead.

2. If the tie remains, goal differential will be used, up to a maximum of 10 goals per game. The team with the higher goal differential will be placed ahead.

3. If the tie is still not broken, placement will be determined randomly.

Team check-in

• Each coach (or designated player rep) must check in with the Tournament Director prior to their first game.

Arrival on deck

• Each team should aim to arrive on deck ~15-20 minutes prior to each game.

Arrival at facility

• Each player and coach MUST enter through the facility main doors.

• Players/coaches need to show the FACILITY ENTRY PASS (image is below) to the front desk staff upon each entry to the facility.

• Players/coaches need to enter onto the pool deck via the changerooms.

• Players/coaches must exit the facility via the changerooms and the main doors.

• To reach the mezzanine area: all players/coaches and spectators need to enter the mezzanine area via the main lobby.

• Spectators are not permitted on the pool deck.

Facility rules

• No food is permitted on deck.

• Absolutely no glass bottles are permitted on deck.

• Players and coaches are not permitted in the recreational areas of the facility including hot tub, play pool, sauna, or steam room.

• Players and coaches may remain on deck between games in the competition pool area.

• Dryland warmups are not permitted on the pool deck. There is a turf area just outside of the facility that can be used.