Video review approved for postseason matches in water polo

The Division II and Division III Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Wednesday approved the limited use of video review, when available, in men's and women's water polo during the postseason, beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.

The use of video review will be limited to goal/no goal situations, including determinations of whether the ball completely crossed the goal line.

This rule change aligns NCAA men's and women's water polo with other NCAA sports by introducing the use of video review during postseason competition.

Other approved rule changes

• After the start of the game, a team may choose to play with seven field players and no goalkeeper. None of the field players will have goalkeeper privileges.
• The referees have the authority to determine whether a late reentry signal error affected whether a goal would have been scored.
• If a timeout is requested by the team that has just scored a goal, the ball will be put in play by the team that allowed the goal in the same manner as a restart after a goal.
• If a team declines a penalty shot during the final minute of play, the team will restart play in the same manner as a restart after a goal.
• After the pregame meeting, a request to change ends after each period will be granted only if the request is made by both coaches.
• If an act of simulation (faking a foul) is committed by the team in possession of the ball, the referee will stop play, remove the ball from the water and award the ball to the opposing team. If an act of simulation is committed by the team not in possession of the ball, the referee will, subject to the provisions of the advantage rule, stop play, remove the ball from the water, order the shot clock to be reset and return the ball to the team in possession of the ball. In both cases, play will be restarted as after a timeout, and the offending player will be assessed a minor act of misconduct but will not be excluded.
• A player excluded for a minor act of misconduct during interval time may not reenter the game until 20 seconds of playing time have elapsed.