Tualatin Hills Water Polo Club is proud to announce its newest program, Waterball!  Waterball is a modified version of water polo. The goal is to introduce the sport of water polo to children ages 12 & under, their parents and families. Basic skills and understanding are taught in a fun and recreational format designed especially for this age group. Waterball is a non-contact sport played in the shallow end of the pool. Ultimately participants will move into age group levels of water polo as they demonstrate the skills and interest. All participants must be able to pass a basic swim test.

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Spring Session

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Dates: Waterball will be offered most Saturdays at the Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center. Kids ages 5-8 will practice 10am-11am. Kids ages 9-12 will practice 11am-12pm. For a complete Spring schedule, click HERE.

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Cost: $30 plus all participants are required to pay the THPRD drop in fee of $3.00 for in district residents, $6.00 for out of district residents.

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Complete Waterball Rules:

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Each team has a goalie and field players who try to put the ball into the other teams goal. You can advance the ball by swimming with it or throwing it. You can stand on the bottom, but cannot advance the ball while on the bottom. You can catch the ball with two hands, but can only throw with one. The only other major rules is that players have FUN!

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• The game consists of four quarters of five minutes duration. With three minutes in between each quarter.
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• To start the game, players line up along the goal line. At a signal from the referee, one player wades or swims towards the center where the referee has thrown the ball and passes the ball backwards to team-mates. The team then moves the ball towards the opponent’s goal with the aim of scoring a goal.
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• A goal is scored when the ball passes completely over the goal-line in the goal area.
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• When a goal has been scored the players return to their own halves and a member of the team that did not score the goal takes a throw from the halfway-line.
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• Players are allowed to swim or wade to get into position but are not allowed to move while holding the ball.
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• Players may catch the ball with two hands but throw with one.
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• No player may hold the ball for longer than five seconds without passing it or playing it on the water. The ball can be dribbled by pushing the ball provided that the player is not contacted. The ball can be stolen from a player who is dribbling.
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• If the ball passes over the goal-line outside the goal area, when thrown by an attacker, a free throw shall be awarded to the goal-keeper. If last touched by the defender or goal keeper, a corner throw shall be taken by an attacker from the two-meter line near the side of the pool.
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• No player may tackle another player whether in possession of the ball or not.
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• No player may swim on or over an opponent’s legs.
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• No player may take the ball underwater.
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• An infringement of the rules results in a free throw, signaled by a whistle from the referee. A flag the color of the cap of the player who gained the free is also raised by the referee. The free throw is to be taken from the spot where the foul occurred.
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• No player is allowed to enter the opponents’ two-meter area unless the player has the ball or the ball IS in front of the player.
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• Any foul by a defending player in the five-meter area which stops a shot at goal shall result in a penalty shot. The shot may be taken by any opposing player from the five meter line without interference by an opponent. The goal-keeper must stand behind the goal-line until the referee blows the whistle The goal keeper can then attempt to stop the penalty shot, The penalty shot must be thrown immediately after the whistle is blown.
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• The penalty for tackling a player shall be exclusion from the game until the next goal is scored, or until the end of the quarter.
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• The penalty for abusive behavior or language is the exclusion for the remainder of the game with a substitute.
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• The penalty for aggression is exclusion from the game for the remainder of the game with a substitute.
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• Coaches and officials will implement all rules with discretion and judgement, encouraging a free-flowing and continuous game, but discourage unsportsmanlike behavior or deliberate body contact.
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