All players from each team shall be lined up at their own goal line and in contact with the pool wall. The football shall be at rest in the centre of the playing area.

Play is started with a call out of “On your marks. Get set. Go.” by an impartial player, a spare, or other mutually agreed volunteer.

Should play be stopped due to a rule infringement, it is restarted by one of the following methods:

After an infringement of the rules causing a team to lose possession of the football, ball possession is awarded to the opposing team. The team with possession forms up on their side of the half way (center) line and the infringing team forms up on their own goal line.

A face-off is used to restart play when an infringement has happened but can not be attributed to one team or another (e.g., two opposing players simultaneously committing a surface carry).

To perform a face-off, a referee shall position the football on the bottom of the pool in an area of his/ her own discretion (often this is done by a blind-drop in the area of the infraction). The team captains shall assign one of their players in the water (typically the one that was closest to the ball at the break in play) to take position on the surface above the football. The referee shall signal the play to commence and the designated players may submerge to take possession of the football. The remaining players must not submerge until the football is touched.

The football may not be carried in a player's bathing suit or any other article of clothing. While the match is in play, the football must be carried underwater within the playing area.

The defensive player:

A player must surface within an arm's reach of the side of the pool to score.

The ball must be placed on the side of the pool under control in the goal area in such a manner that the ball comes momentarily to rest on the pool deck with the scorer’s hand still grasping the ball. At this point a goal has been scored and whatever happens to the ball subsequent to this point is irrelevant.

A failed scoring attempt where the ball comes to rest above water is deemed a surface carry on the offensive team and the game is restarted as a half way with the defenders in possession the ball.

If the ball returns to the water on its own, during a failed scoring attempt, play continues uninterrupted.

A minor penalty consists of a player being removed from the game and staying within the penalty area for one minute and the loss of possession of the football where applicable.

In club play a mm'or penalty is generally assessed as a “Loss of Possession“.

A major penalty consists of a player being removed from the game and staying within the penalty area for two minutes and the loss of possession of the football where applicable.

Is committed when two players surface while in possession of the football. A face off shall take place between the two players surfacing the football.

When a player in possession of the football breaks the surface of the water with any part of their body or equipment with the exception of their fins and feet to the ankles, a Surface Carry has occurred. A "Loss of Possession" penalty is assessed.

Hanging On To the Side or Pool Apparatus

This foul occurs when a player hangs on to the side of the pool for the purpose of affecting the play (e.g. blocking or goal tending). A minor penalty is assessed.

A player may hold on to the side for the purpose of resting or adjusting equipment, providing the player is well out of the goal area. The player must remain within the play area.

Any player who is in possession of the football and is attempting to score may hold on to the side to aid the scoring effort. Should the effort be unsuccessful, the player must immediately release the side of the pool and submerge completely.

Technical Fouls

A technical foul occurs when a team or player shows unsportsmanlike conduct toward an opposing player or players or toward any official. Such conduct may consist of verbal remarks or any other action or gesture deemed inappropriate. A major penalty will be assessed. Continuation of the penalized behaviour shall result in the offending player being ejected from the game. The captain may then designate a replacement player, who must serve the penalty time.

Holding occurs when a player, either on the surface or underwater, holds another player who does not have possession of the football. A minor penalty is assessed.

Interference occurs when a player, either on the surface or underwater, intentionally prevents another player not in possession of the football, from engaging m' the play. However, a player is not obligated to move out of the way of another player. The following examples would constitute an interference penalty: pushing or pulling on an opposing player, or flailing (as opposed to swimming) of arms and legs to impede the motion of an opposing player. A major penalty is assessed.

Equipment removal occurs when a player causes another player's mask, snorkel, fins, or bathing suit to be removed or displaced. A minor penalty is assessed.

Any player who intentionally throws the football out of the water shall be deemed to have committed a surface throw. A minor penalty is assessed.

Fighting occurs when a player gives another player blows, or displays persistent and excessive aggressive behaviour toward another player. The player does not need to retaliate. The offending player shall be ejected immediately from the game. In addition, a "Rough Play" penalty shall be assessed against the offending player's team. The penalty must be served by a player designated by the team Captain. The designated player must be one who was in the water at the time of the infringement.

Rough play occurs when a player's performance, in the opinion of the Referee, may be considered hazardous to the other players.

Examples of rough play are elbowing, kneeing, kicking, charging, strangle holds, or tackles above the shoulders. A major penalty is assessed.

Any player who incurs a second rough play penalty during a game shall be ejected from the game upon assessment of the second penalty. Another player of the offending teams choice must serve the two minute penalty.