FINA Approves New Rules For Open Water and Water Polo

Aug 11, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; General view of the ball during the women's preliminary round game between the United States and the China in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott
Photo Courtesy: Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports

The FINA Open Water Swimming and Water Polo Technical Congresses took place today in Budapest (HUN), and approved the new rules of the respective disciplines for the period 2017-2021.

In Open Water Swimming, the three main changes were:

–    Removal of the Chief Race Judge’s role, as this position is no longer required;
–    Recognition of the Chief Referee’s role as the primary official responsible for the conduct of the competition;
–    Terminology consistency in all rules relating to the finish wall.

At the Water Polo Congress, the delegates approved the Bureau’s recommendation to only validate the rules related with the recent IOC decision to increase the number of teams in the women’s Olympic tournament, from eight to 10.

This was accompanied by the reduction of each national squad composition (for both men and women), from 13 to 11 players.

The Congress delegates approved the necessary adjustments in the rules concerning this change, only applicable at Olympic level.

After the Magyar rendezvous, the Bureau approved the organisation of a FINA World Water Polo Conference until the end of 2017 to discuss and propose new ways of enhancing the first Olympic team sport in the five continents. Taking into account the outcome of this gathering and after receiving the updated proposals by the new Technical Water Polo Committee to be nominated in Budapest, FINA will call an Extraordinary Congress to validate these changes by the end of 2018.

Press release courtesy of FINA 

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Sylvie Potvin
6 years ago

Nothing on wetsuits?

Shaheen Alghofari
6 years ago

Big changes for me Joe Stott

2
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x