Standard Clinic Part 3: Advantage Version 3.2 Release date: 2004

© 2004, FINAStandard Fundamental Concepts Water Polo is a CONTACT SPORT There will be physical contact between players as they strive for position and the ball - this is wholly acceptable. Excessive or inappropriate contact between players should not be tolerated. Physical contact that takes away a player’s or a team’s advantage is a foul.

© 2004, FINAStandard Playing Offense The objective of the attacking team is to gain and maintain offensive advantage. Examples: Good passes and ball control. Protecting the ball. Working for position. Taking good, high percentage shots.

© 2004, FINAStandard Playing Defense The objective of the defending team is to prevent goals. Examples: Play in the “lanes” and prevent good passes. Pressure players to give up the ball. Working for better position. Force low percentage shots.

© 2004, FINAStandard The rules are written in favor of the defense; generally, when calls are made, they interrupt the offensive flow, thus, the help the defense. When the teams are playing water polo, it is the obligation of the referee to use the advantage rule to call the game so that the attacking team can score. Approach to Refereeing Water Polo

© 2004, FINAStandard What is Advantage? Definition Relative Advantage Shooting Advantage Three “P’s” of ADVANTAGE Possessional Advantage Positional Advantage Probable Goal Advantage When to Violate Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard What is Advantage? Definition Relative Advantage Shooting Advantage Three “P’s” of ADVANTAGE Possessional Advantage Positional Advantage Probable Goal Advantage When to Violate Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard Definition of “Advantage” The referees shall refrain from declaring a foul if, in their opinion, such declaration would be an advantage to the offending player’s team. The referees shall not declare an ordinary foul when there is still a possibility to play the ball. [Note. The referees shall apply this principle to the fullest extent. They should not, for example, declare an ordinary foul in favor of a player who is in possession of the ball and making progress towards his opponent’s goal, because this is considered to give an advantage to the offender’s team.] FINA WP Rule 7.3

© 2004, FINAStandard Difficult Part of “Advantage” The referee shall not declare an ordinary foul when there is still a possibility to play the ball. FINA/USWP Rules Rule 7.3 It is not necessary to award a free throw to an attacking team other than the player with the ball, so long as his team is in possession of the ball. … Often, you can see a situation when a player is still able to pass the ball despite being fouled. A whistle in this case could even be a disadvantage for the attacking team. FINA Instructions to Referees

© 2004, FINAStandard Use the Advantage Rule to Enable the Offense The rules are written in favor of the defense. When the teams are playing water polo, it is the obligation of the referee to use the advantage rule to call the game so that the attacking team can score.

© 2004, FINAStandard Fouls, when called, should return an advantage to the team that is at least as good as it had prior to calling the foul. Maximize the team’s scoring opportunities with the timing of the calls. Underlying Principles for Calling Fouls

© 2004, FINAStandard General Philosophical Approach The teams are obliged to play water polo. When the teams play water polo, there are typically only fouls of play. When the teams are not playing water polo, then other fouls may occur.

© 2004, FINAStandard General Philosophical Approach (Conclusion) The players are to play the game. It is the responsibility of the referee to control the game so that the players can determine the result of the game.

© 2004, FINAStandard What is Advantage? Definition Relative Advantage Shooting Advantage Changes with Positioning of Players Three “P’s” of ADVANTAGE Possessional Advantage Positional Advantage Probable Goal Advantage When to Violate Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard What is the advantage of the person being fouled? What is the advantage of the team? What is the overall advantage of the team being fouled? What is the overall advantage of the team doing the fouling? Relative Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard G G x x x x x x o o o o o o Ready to Shoot Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard G G x x x x x x o o o o o o Passing to Shoot Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard Working with Water at Set G x o x o o x o x o x o x

© 2004, FINAStandard Working with Water at Set G x o x o o x o x o x o x G x o x o o x o x o x o x

© 2004, FINAStandard What About Sloughers? G x o x o o x o x o x o x Slough from the wing Followed by a point drop

© 2004, FINAStandard Pull Back with No Sloughers Coming In – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Two Hands Up Defense With Slougher Coming In – No Call

© 2004, FINAStandard Impeding With Sloughers Coming In – Ordinary Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Pull Back With Sloughers Coming In – Exclusion Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard What is the offensive advantage? Not just the player with the ball Where are the passes? Where are the possible shooters? What is the defensive advantage? Are they in the passing lanes? Are they in position to steal and counterattack? Overall Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard What is Advantage? Definition Relative Advantage Shooting Advantage Changes with Positioning of Players Three “P’s” of ADVANTAGE Possessional Advantage Positional Advantage Probable Goal Advantage When to Violate Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard Possessional advantage Positional advantage Probable goal advantage Three “P’s” of Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard Has possession of the ball Can do something with the ball If possessional advantage is taken away, it is returned with a free throw Possessional Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard If offense throws ball halfway between a defender and the attacking player, even if it is a “bad” pass, the attacking player should be allowed to get the ball. Ordinary fouls for impeding, a little holding Exclusion fouls for holding, pulling back If in doubt, favor the offense. 50/50 Call to Offense

© 2004, FINAStandard Bad Pass Pass not thrown to correct location Pass thrown to wrong player Poor Possession Swam into defenders Stuck in no-man’s land Examples of No Possessional Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard x o 1 x o 2 3 Face off pass Pass through defender Pass too high Bad Pass: No Possessional Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard G G x x x x x x o o o o o o Poor Possession: Forcing Pass Into Defenders

© 2004, FINAStandard Bad Pass to Set (Regular Position) – No Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Bad Pass to Set (Inside Position) – No Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Pass to Wrong Side with Slougher Too Near–No Call

© 2004, FINAStandard o G G x x x x x x o o o o o o Poor Possession: Swimming Into Defenders

© 2004, FINAStandard x o x o G G x x x x x o o o o o Poor Possession: Stuck in No-Man’s Land

© 2004, FINAStandard x o G G x x x x x o o o o o o x Poor Possession: Stuck in the Corner

© 2004, FINAStandard Possessional advantage Positional advantage Probable goal advantage Three “P’s” of Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard Attacking player has position over defending player. Position is taken away by defender holding, sinking or pulling back. Sanction is to exclude player Positional Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard Horizontal attacking player with vertical defender (holding, hand checking) Attacking player turns defender Gained and is holding offensive position Ahead of defender outside 4 meter area Examples of Positional Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard Horizontal Attacking Player At transitions from offense to defense: former defensive player starts counterattack and is held At start of drives (especially from 2 and 4 positions): defender vertical and prevents the drive

© 2004, FINAStandard Considerations Is the attacking player swimming over top of the defender and sinking him/her? Did the defender hold the player outside his/her shoulders? What is marking? Hand checking? Holding?

© 2004, FINAStandard Hold: Handchecking

© 2004, FINAStandard Hold: Hooking Arm

© 2004, FINAStandard Hold (and then Sink)

© 2004, FINAStandard Pull Back: Swimming

© 2004, FINAStandard Pull Back: Pass to Set

© 2004, FINAStandard Pull Back: By Former Set

© 2004, FINAStandard Horizontal attacking player with vertical defender (holding, hand checking) Attacking player turns defender Gained and is holding offensive position Ahead of defender outside 4 meter area Examples of Positional Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard Once a defender is turned, he/she better get hands, elbows and arms up into the air: Must make effort to show he/she is not committing a foul If the attacking player is not able to go forward (especially if he/she has the ball): Defender should be excluded Turned Player

© 2004, FINAStandard G G x x x x x x o o o o o o x o x o Turning a Player: With Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard G G x x x x x x o o o o o o ? Turning a Player: Is There Advantage?

© 2004, FINAStandard Horizontal attacking player with vertical defender (holding, hand checking) Attacking player turns defender Gained and is holding offensive position Ahead of defender outside 4 meter area Examples of Positional Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard The center forward and center back are allowed to “strive for position” Once the center forward has position he/she has to maintain position defender may not hold, sink, pull, push the center forward out of position Criteria are irrespective of the slougher (double team) Gaining Offensive Position

© 2004, FINAStandard Horizontal attacking player with vertical defender (holding, hand checking) Attacking player turns defender Gained and is holding offensive position Ahead of defender outside 4 meter area Examples of Positional Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard Withholding Call: Increase Level of Advantage G G x x x x x x o o o o o o 4m

© 2004, FINAStandard Three “P’s” of Advantage Possessional advantage Positional advantage Probable goal advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard Player has a good opportunity for a shot and defender prevents the shot by a foul (any foul) inside the 4-meter area. Counterattack entering the 4-meter area. Pulling down of shooting arm of player inside the 4-meter area and inside water from his/her defender Attacking team gets penalty shot A Probable Goal...

© 2004, FINAStandard Inside Water (Advantage) – No Call

© 2004, FINAStandard Hands Up Defense – No Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Turn and Goalkeeper Steal – No Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard Inside But Loses Control of Ball – No Call

© 2004, FINAStandard Foul With Inside Water – Penalty Foul

© 2004, FINAStandard When there is no one defending the goal, then the probability that a ball tossed into the goal will score is very high. THEREFORE, many fouls committed inside the 4-meter area when the goal is empty may be penalty fouls because the foul took away a probable goal. NOTE: If there was no probable goal, then there is no penalty foul. Empty Net Fouls

© 2004, FINAStandard What is Advantage? Definition Relative Advantage Shooting Advantage Three “P’s” of ADVANTAGE Possessional Advantage Positional Advantage Probable Goal Advantage When to Violate Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard Physical contact between attacking players and defenders is permitted Intervene ONLY to return possessional advantage return positional advantage return probable goal advantage Calling Fouls Is Based on Advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard General Rule of Thumb As a rule of thumb, there should be very few fouls called behind the line of attack. Few fouls should be called away from the ball; only call fouls that affect the play.

© 2004, FINAStandard Violate Rule When... Gross offensive fouls Gross defensive exclusion fouls (usually kicking or striking) Fouls resulting in a game exclusion of a player Fouls called for safety reasons.

© 2004, FINAStandard However …. IF there is no advantage at the lead end of the counterattack call the foul in the back court this is where the advantage may be IF there is no advantage at the lead end of the counterattack call the foul in the middle of the pack this is where the advantage may be

© 2004, FINAStandard Remember … Physical contact between attacking players and defenders is permitted Intervene ONLY to return possessional advantage return positional advantage return probable goal advantage

© 2004, FINAStandard REWARD Good position Good technique

© 2004, FINAStandard The End of Part 3 Advantage