As a National Governing Body of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee ("USOPC") and member of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, USA Water Polo abides by the USOPC Athlete Safety Policy and The United States Center for SafeSport ("the Center") SafeSport Code in an effort to recognize, reduce, and respond to misconduct in sport.

We all play a role in reducing misconduct and abuse in sport. The Center provides education and resources for all members of the sport community - organizations, coaches, officials, parents and athletes - to understand what misconduct is, implement ways to reduce it and identify plans to respond to it.

USA Water Polo Participants are prohibited from engaging in misconduct, including but not limited to sexual, emotional, physical misconduct as well as bullying, hazing and harassment as per the USA Water Polo Rules Governing Conduct and U.S. Center for SafeSport Code.

All adult participants are mandatory reporters. Reporting violations of the Code or Rules may be made anonymously and there are no fees or cost associated with reporting prohibited conduct.

In the following sections, you will find more details relating to the USA Water Polo's Safe Sport Program

The U.S. Center for SafeSport ("the Center"), is focused on preventing misconduct in sport, including but not limited to physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The Center, initially chartered by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), is an independent organization with a nine-member board of directors, including subject matter experts in abuse prevention, child abuse and sexual assault investigation, ethics compliance and sport administration. The Center has authority under federal law to investigate and resolve allegations of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and related misconduct associated with the National Governing Bodies recognized by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. It collaborates with sport organizations to foster a culture of safety by raising awareness, developing best practices, and providing education and training to promote respect and prevent abuse.As a member of the USOPC, USA Water Polo supports the US Center for SafeSport seeking to create a healthy, supportive environment for all participants through education, resources, and training.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport website provides a wide range of resources for USA Water Polo clubs, athletes, coaches, officials and parents:

U.S. Center for SafeSport Website.

• U.S. Center for SafeSport Code

Legislation has placed additional obligations on the Center and youth sport organizations, including USA Water Polo. Senate Bill 534, Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017 was signed into law in February 2018. The bill imposes a duty on amateur sports organizations, including USA Water Polo and its adult members, to report suspected sex-abuse to local or federal law enforcement or to a child-welfare agency designated by the Justice Department, within 24 hours. Failure to report is subject to criminal penalties. For more information on the legislation, view the Senate Bill Facts

USA Water Polo members and participants are prohibited from misconduct, including but not limited to sexual, emotional, physical miscondcut as well as bullying, hazing, and harassment as per the U.S. Center for SafeSport's Code and USA Water Polo Rules Governing Conduct.

REPORT A CONCERN TO THE US CENTER FOR SAFESPORT

Violations of SafeSport Code Involving Sexual Misconduct - If you have reasonable suspicion of sexual misconduct such as child sexual abuse, non-consensual sexual conduct, sexual harassment, or intimate relationships involving an imbalance of power, please REPORT to the US Center for SafeSport electronically on their website https://USCenterForSafeSport.org or via phone at 1-720-531-0340. The Center has exclusive jurisdiction to respond and resolve allegations of sexual misconduct. If USA Water Polo receives an allegation of sexual misconduct, it immediately forwards it to the Center.

Violations of the SafeSport Code Other Than Violations Involving Sexual Misconduct - Violations of the Code OTHER than sexual misconduct may be made to either USA Water Polo or the Center. Violations of the Code reported to USA Water Polo will also be forwarded to the Center to determine if the Center wishes to exercise jurisdiction over the reported violation. In the event that the Center declines jurisdiction over a reported violation, USA Water Polo will notify the reporting party, who may then elect to proceed to employ USA Water Polo's grievance procedures as provided in Article 16 of the Bylaws with respect to the reported violation. To report to the Center you may submit your report electronically at https://USCenterForSafeSport.org or via phone at 1-720-531-0340. To report to USA Water Polo, please email report@usawaterpolo.org.

Violations Other than the SafeSport Code - Reports of violations of misconduct including violations of Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies, allegations of emotional misconduct, physical misconduct, and misconduct other than violations of the SafeSport Code, should be made to USA Water Polo, which will then administer the reported violation in accordance with USA Water Polo’s grievance procedures as provided in Article 16 of the Bylaws. To report to USA Water Polo, please email report@usawaterpolo.org. Reports can also be made to USA Water Polo anonymously and free of charge by going to the USAWP Feedback Form.

Please visit the Grievance Page for more details.

Mandatory Reporting - Adult Participants MUST report any conduct of which they become aware that could constitute sexual misconduct, misconduct that is related to an underlying allegation of sexual misconduct, child abuse or neglect, or retaliation related to an allegation of sexual misconduct directly to the Center electronically at https://USCenterForSafeSport.org or via phone at 1-720-531-0340.. Participants should not attempt to investigate or evaluate the credibility of any allegation involving the foregoing types of misconduct before submtting a Report as doing so may intefere with the Center's investigation and could delay the Center's response to the alleged conduct. View the Center's Mandatory Reporting Guide.

Report to local authorities - Contact local authorities childwelfare.gov if you have reasonable suspicion that child sexual abuse or neglect has occurred. All reports of child abuse or sexual assault of a minor MUST also be reported to local authorities in addition to the Center. Reports of abuse not involving a minor may also be reported to local authorities.

Contact the SafeSport crisis line for 24/7 crisis support: A 24/7 hotline has been established by the Center for crisis interventions, referrals and emotional support. This confidential and secure helpline 1-866-200-0796 is operated by RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Life-threatening emergencies should call 911. You can also visit the Center's website for Supporting Survivors Resources

A "Participant" as defined by the U.S. Center for SafeSport is – “Any individual who:

• (1.) is seeking to be, currently is, or was at the time of the alleged Code violation: (a) A member or license holder; (b) An employee, and/or; (c) within the governance or disciplinary jurisdiction of the USOPC, an NGB, or Local Affiliated Organization.
• (2.) All adults affiliated with or at a facility under the jurisdiction of an NGB, the USOPC, or a Paralympic sports organization, and who have regular contact with minor athletes; and all adults authorized by such members to interact with a minor athlete.”

USA Water Polo's Participants include:

• Members, including athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, participants
• USAWP Employees and Staff
• USAWP Board Members
• Contractors with direct role
• Medical Personnel
• Volunteers with direct role

SafeSport Core Training

Participants who are 18 years of age or older and have regular contact with minor athletes must complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s SafeSport Trained courses:

• Before regular contact with athletes begins; and
• Within 45 days of beginning a new role subjecting the individual to this policy

Refresher Course

The SafeSport Training cycle consists of the Core Training and three annual Refresher courses. Each SafeSport Training course is valid for ONE year. Once a member completes the Core training and three subsequent Refresher courses, the member must begin the cycle again.

On a case by case basis, victims/survivors of any type of abuse may qualify for an exemption from the Center’s education and training policy. Requests for exemptions from the Center’s training requirement should be made to the Center at ngbservices@safesport.org.

Minor Athlete Optional Training

Minor athlete SafeSport training courses are hosted by the U.S. Center for SafeSport on safesporttrained.org and requires that a parent/legal guardian create an account to provide consent for their child to access the training. Once an account is created, parents can choose which course is best for their child based on their actual or developmental age. Each course will take less than 30 minutes to complete. A writeable PDF certificate is available at the conclusion of each training, and parents are encouraged to write their child's name on the printed certificate.

• Preschool SafeSport Training includes a fun cheer; emphasizes that sports should be an inclusive environment that prioritizes safety, respect, and fun over winning; and encourages starting an open conversation with children at an early age.
• Grades K-2 SafeSport Training includes an animated video and game that focuses on having a positive attitude, keeping sport fun, and speaking up when something doesn’t feel right. The course concludes with resources for reporting abuse or misconduct.
• Grades 3-5 SafeSport Training provides an interactive game to identify and speak up when behavior crosses the line, recognize the difference between discipline and abuse, stresses the importance of being a good teammate, and have a healthy sports environment focused on fun and safety. The course concludes with resources for reporting abuse or misconduct.
• Middle School SafeSport Training focuses on bullying prevention, safe online behavior, responding to red flags and resources for reporting abuse or misconduct.
• High School SafeSport Training focuses on bullying and hazing prevention, supporting friends who have experienced abuse or inappropriate conduct, and resources for reporting abuse or misconduct.

Additional/Optional Training Materials

• Parent SafeSport Training
• Parent SafeSport Toolkit for download

To Complete SafeSport Training Courses:

Participants required to take the training must login to their USA Water Polo Membership Account and select the “SafeSport Training” option. The training is free for members and may be accessed from USA Water Polo’s membership database. Once registered for the course, you may begin the course directly within the USA Water Polo database. You may finish the training at your own pace. You are not required to finish the course in a single sitting, however the entire course must be completed for full credit of the training. Upon completion of SafeSport training, the USA Water Polo National Office will receive a record of the course completion directly from the training platform and will record it within your membership account. We recommend the member also save a copy of the certificate of completion for their records. Failure to complete a required training will result in disqualification from participating in USA Water Polo practices and events.

Adult members required to complete the mandatory SafeSport Training are not able to have regular contact with minors, including club practices, activities or events without a current SafeSport training completion on file with USAWP. Professional memberships will be tracked through the membership database and will be listed as ineligible until completion of all requirements have been met. Club administrators have access to track athlete member accounts to check for training compliance. Please login to your USAWP account to register for the course. Training is required on an ongoing annual basis.

If you are a parent looking for resources on keeping your athlete safe, you can access the Parent Training at no cost without having to be a USA Water Polo member. Simply create an account at www.safesporttrained.org, add the parent training to your bag, and you'll be able to access the training. The Parent's Guide to Misconduct in Sport is designed for the parents of athletes of all ages. This course explains the issues of misconduct in sport and helps parents ensure their children have a positive and SafeSport experience.

Pursuant to the Act, the Center has created Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAP policies) to set a baseline for acceptable safety standards that limit one-on-one interaction betwen adults and minor athletes. USA Water Polo has developed sport-specific MAAP policies to prevent the abuse of minor athletes in water polo. These are based on uniform policies developed by the Center to limit one-on-one interactions between minor athletes and unrelated adults. The policy covers the following areas; meetings, individual training sessions, therapeutic modalities, locker room and changing areas, social media, electronic communication, and local and team travel. The complete USA Water Polo Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies and additional learning tools can be found by clicking here. A copy is also located within the Rules Governing Member Conduct.

The Center has additional tools and resources. Some can be can be found below and on the US Center for SafeSport Website.

One-Page MAAPP Quick Guides

• One-On-One Interaction Guidelines
• Massage and Rubdown Athletic Training Modalities Guidelines
• Social Media Guidelines
• Locker Rooms/Changing Area Guidelines
• Local Travel Guidelines
• Team Travel Guidelines
• Education & Training Guidelines

Additional Resources for Facilities & Events

• USAWP General Admission Policy Sign
• USAWP MAAPP GENERAL OVERVIEW
• EDITABLE POSTER: How to Report a Concern
• EDITABLE POSTER: Locker Room Notice
• SAMPLE: Team Travel Policy

These model forms address In-Program activities that require parental consent, and they are intended to be used only as examples. Each organization should ensure that any consent forms used by the organization comply with all federal, state, and local laws as well as the organization’s policies. Organizations are responsible for obtaining legal advice before using these model consent forms. The usage of these model forms does not imply approval from the U.S. Center for SafeSport, and the Center prohibits the use of the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s logo or branding marks on consent forms.

Template Consent Forms

• Minor Athlete General Consent Forms
• Minor Athlete Dual Relationship Consent Form
• Lodging Consent Form
• Personal Care Assistant Consent Form

USA Water Polo SafeSport policy requires Participating Adults with (a) a position of authority over, and (b) regular contact with athletes to complete a background screening before contact with athletes begins and within 45 days of role subjecting and individual to this policy. Professional memberships will be tracked through the membership database and will be listed as ineligible until completion of all requirements have been met. Full background screening information can be found below in the Background Screening safety section.

The Center maintains a website that allows members of the public to search using an individual's name to determine whether or not an individual is under a sanction by the Center. To search, visit https://uscenterforsafesport.org/response-and-resolution/disciplinary-database/. Should you wish to use the Center's website, please note that it may not contain records for the time period prior to the Center's establishment (March 2017) and that, because the website is maintained by the Center, not USA Water Polo, USA Water Polo cannot warrant that the website is complete or current.

The Search Function allows you to view individuals by name, location, OR sport affiliation. Members of USA Water Polo agree to abide by its policies and procedures and are thus subject to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Center. The Center's policies and procedures are guided by the SafeSport Code, which can be found at USCenterForSafeSport.org . As a National Governing Body under the auspices of the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Water Polo is obligated to enforce all suspension and/or sanctioned imposed by the Center.

https://usawaterpolo.org

Participating Adults must have a current background screening on file with the National Office. Each successful background screening is good for up to a two (2) year period, with a re-check after one year. Background screening must be current before regular contact with athletes begins; and within 45 days of beginning a new role subjecting the individual to this policy. Any failed screenings, also known as Red Lights, will receive notification that they do not meet the criteria, and have the ability to request a waiver. If a waiver is not requested or the panel does not grant a waiver, the membership will be cancelled. Background Screening Red Lights are subject to an additional review by the US Center for SafeSport and United States Olympic Committee.

The cost for the background screen required by USA Water Polo is $30 plus $1.25 service fee. This fee will be paid to NCSI by the applicant at the time that he/she goes online to initiate a background screen. NCSI accepts MasterCard, Visa, and American Express for online transactions. There may be additional fees for International applicants.

The program is designed to:

• Protect the confidentiality of information pertaining to existing and prospective USA Water Polo members.
• Review members and prospective members pursuant to the Screening Criteria below.
• Provide those screened with an opportunity to challenge incorrect information found in the screening process before a result is forwarded to USA Water Polo.
• Forward information to our outside legal counsel for additional investigation and any action in those instances where the screening results produce disqualifiers. Except in rare situations, there would be no disclosure to the team, Zone, or national personnel at this stage.
• Screen members based on name, date of birth, address history and social security number.
• Remove the involvement of volunteers and staff in compliance, data collection and record retention.
• Be compliant with the applicable provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

This program places the responsibility for information management and retention on the screening provider. Except in those few instances where a member's background screen returns information indicating a disqualifying event, USA Water Polo will not be privy to or store the information returned in a member's background screen, and only then that the applicant did not pass the background screen.

Any of the following shall constitute violations of USA Water Polo's Background Screening Criteria - as per the Rules Governing Conduct:

A reportable record or disclosure that contains a disposition or resolution of a criminal proceeding, other than an adjudication of not guilty, or pending charges involving, any of the below criminal offenses will be flagged as a Red Light, meaning it does not meet the initial screening criteria established by USA Water Polo. Individuals receiving a Red Light may seek a waiver of the requirement that certain classes of members pass a background screen in accordance with USA Water Polo’s policies.

1. Any felony, defined as all crimes punishable by greater than one year in jail or prison, regardless of how characterized by jurisdiction, including, if the crime is punishable by a range of sentences or indeterminate sentencing, if the range of potential sentences includes sentences with an outer range greater than one year.

2. Any misdemeanor involving:

• (a) Sexual crimes, criminal offenses of a sexual nature to include but not limited to; rape, child molestation, sexual battery, lewd conduct, possession and distribution of child pornography, possession and distribution of obscene material, prostitution, indecent exposure, public indecency, and any sex offender registrant;
• (b) Any drug related offenses;
• (c) Harm to a minor or vulnerable person, including, but not limited to, offenses such as child abandonment, child endangerment/neglect/abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and DUI with a minor;
• (d) Violence against a person, force, or threat of force (including crimes involving a deadly weapon and domestic violence);
• (e) Stalking, harassment, blackmail, violation of a protection order, and/or threats;
• (f) Destruction of property, including arson, vandalism, and criminal mischief;
• (g) Animal abuse, cruelty, or neglect;
• (h) Two or more alcohol related offenses; or
• (i) Any alcohol related offense within the past seven (7) years.

Any individual applying for a professional membership in USA Water Polo who does not pass the background screening will not be eligible to become continue as a professional member of USA Water Polo.

USA Water Polo Staff, Medical Personnel, and individuals formally authorized, approved, or appointed to a position of authority over or to have frequent contact with athletes are also screened with this same criteria. Additional requirements placed on individuals attending a USOPC Games Delegation Event. Screening criteria can be found on TeamUSA.org.

• Coach members and prospective coach members prior to contact with athletes
• Referee members and prospective referee members prior to contact with athletes
• Club administrators prior to contact with athletes
• National Teams Managers and Coordinators
• Board Of Directors
• USA Water Polo HQ staff. Requirement includes pre- employment and regular staff screening
• Other Participating Adults as determined by USA Water Polo or Club Organization (LAO) who are formally authorized, approved, or appointed to a position of authority over or to have frequent contact with athletes

Please note: Screening requirements apply to ALL members or prospective members listed above, including those under the age of 18. Background screening applicants under 18 years of age must arrange to have a parent or legal guardian available during the online application process since their signature, in addition to the member, will be required for certain notices and authorizations

Click Here to Log into your Account and Start Your Background Screening

AND

• Here is a visual guide on how to submit a Background Screening on your account, CLICK HERE and steps are below:
• Step 1: usawp.sport80.com/; Log Into your Account using email and personal password.
• Step 2: Click on the small profile box to open your account.
• Step 3: Scroll down and find the tab "Background Screening".
• Step 4: Choose either MVR or Background Screening in the drop down, then fill out the information needed in its entirity.

It is important when entering your name, that you use your full legal name as written on your current ID (state driver's license, passport or state ID with name and DOB). Please also verify that your social security number was typed correctly. Using nicknames or failing to type a correct social security number may delay or invalidate your background check. You may incur additional fees if this information is incorrect or not complete. International screenings may require an additional fee based on the country. International screens will be used when a member does not have a SSN and when a foreign address is the longest most recent address history for the current screening period.

NCSI will contact you directly if there are any questions, problems or issues related to your specific information. An email address is required when completing the background check as our contact with you will largely be electronic. Please be sure to add ncsisafe.com to your list of acceptable domains in your email program to receive notifications from us. If you have any questions or problems submitting your information, please email applicantservices@ncsisafe.com or call the NCSI at Toll Free: (866)833-7100 or Local:(440) 542-9690. Once you have submitted your information you will receive a confirmation page with a 16-digit Applicant ID Number. The background check generally takes 10 business days to complete and you may check your status on our website under the "Check Your Background Screening Status" link at www.ncsisafe.com.

• An individual subject to screening must go online to connect through a link on the USA Water Polo web site to initiate and pay for a USA Water Polo Background Screen.
• The applicant will promptly receive a screening report that provides address history and criminal information, if any. Until NCSI reviews this search report against the USA Water Polo screening criteria, the applicant's "Screening Status" on the NCSI Web site will reflect "Pending" or "In Progress". NCSI's determination regarding membership eligibility will be emailed after the screening has been completed.
• If the applicant passes screening, the result will be updated to "Approved" on the NCSI Web site and will be communicated electronically to the USA Water Polo membership database. The expiration date for the screening will be reflected on the USA Water Polo website.
• If the background screen returns a finding that the applicant is not eligible to become a USA Water Polo coach member, there is a process for review of the accuracy of the information through NCSI.
• If the final background screen returns a finding that the applicant is not eligible to become a USA Water Polo coach member, then the membership will not be granted and the membership database will display no information regarding the applicant.
• NOTE: If a member does not have a SSN, s/he should put all zeros in the SSN field. Additional documentation and/or fees may be required.

In addition, an applicant who does not pass a background check may initiate a grievance under Article 16 of USA Water Polo's Bylaws, at no additional charge, should the applicant choose to challenge a negative finding on membership eligibility.

In the event that a background screening returns information that the applicant believes is not accurate, he or she will have the opportunity to dispute that information with NCSI. To protect the applicant, that opportunity will precede any communication of information by NCSI to USA Water Polo. Applicants who have failed a background check may elect to file a written waiver request with USA Water Polo. There is no charge for filing such an appeal. The appeal will be heard by a special three person panel that USAWP's Chief Executive Officer has appointed to hear such appeals. If the panel concludes that, in its judgment, the coach should continue to be eligible to participate as a Coach Member, the coach will be required to obtain a certificate, in such form as the panel may prescribe, signed by the Club Administrator of the Club with which the coach is affiliated. That certificate will state, at a minimum, that the Club Administrator has received and reviewed a copy of the coach's background check and that, notwithstanding the information contained in the background check, the Club wishes to affiliate with the coach. In the event that the coach also acts as the Club Administrator, the certification must be signed by another adult member of the Club. If the panel concludes that, in its judgment, the coach should not continue to be eligible to participate as a Coach Member, the coach may appeal the panel's decision to the American Arbitration Association, the same as any other party who wishes to appeal from the results of a USA Water Polo grievance hearing.

The purpose of this waiver procedure is to provide for some flexibility into the background checking process. As always, the decision to hire a coach is that of the Club employing the coach and the individual club members who elect, on their own behalf of that of their minor children, to participate under the supervision of the coach. USA Water Polo does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy of the background checks obtained by the coaches from NCSI or a member Club's decision to hire or not hire any individual coach.

In addition, an applicant who does not pass a background check may initiate a grievance under Article 16 of USA Water Polo's Bylaws, at no additional charge, should the applicant choose to challenge a negative finding on membership eligibility.

Persons subject to screening, as noted above, will be required to be screened every two years. Expiration for all screening tests shall be 24 months from screening approval. NCSI will recheck an Individual's Records twelve months after the submission date, The recheck search performed uses one commercial data provider to search a database and available state sex offender registries. After 24 months, when it is time to update screening records, it is highly recommended that members submit an application for re-screening just prior to expiration to allow time for new results so the the member can maintain a current status.

After conducting an extended search, USA Water Polo selected National Council for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) as its national provider. NCSI is dedicated and committed to the community, their clients and the people they serve.

NCSI contact information can be found at: https://www.ncsisafe.com/Contact-Us/

In 2010, the USA Water Polo National Office determined through benchmarking with other youth sports and National Governing Bodies that a background screening program for USA Water Polo professional members would be a service that we could provide to our membership. As noted in our Statement of Ethics, public trust is critical to the success of our organization and we feel strongly that a formalized background screening process for the members who supervise or have frequent contact with our athlete members will substantially further that goal.

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI), caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth. Even a "ding," "getting your bell rung," or what seems to be mild bump or blow to the head can be serious.

Concussions can occur in any sport or recreation activity. So, all coaches, parents, and athletes need to learn concussion signs and symptoms and what to do if a concussion occurs.

USAWP Concussion Information Sheet (required for members during registration process) Click Here

USA Water Polo has made modifications and added provisions to the USA Water Polo Playing Rules (Rule 26) and Rules Governing Conduct (Injury Reporting) regarding head injuries and concussions.

• Rules Governing Conduct - V.A.2. Head Injuries
• USAWP Playing Rule 26

For questions regarding Protective Wear, please visit the Safe Play - Protective Gear section.

Members are required to send an email to USA Water Polo at swiggins@usawaterpolo.org with a copy to mlam@usawaterpolo.org containing the following information: (a) the time and date at which the athlete was removed from athletic activity, (b) the symptoms observed and (c) any treatment provided to the athlete. You may also download the USAWP Incident Report and submit it in the same fashion.

Pursuant to the Injury provisions of USA Water Polo Rules Governing Conduct ("Rules") if an athlete is suspected of sustaining an concussion or other head injury, the athlete must be removed from play and is not permitted to return to any athletic activity until the athlete's coach must receive a completed and signed Certificate as designated in the Rules.

Training must be taken at least once prior to supervising an athlete. Previous education courses are accepted. Option: CDC Online Course

• CDC Website for Head Injuries & Concussions in Sport
• Concussion Action Plan

USA Water Polo & CDC Concussion Fact Sheets

• Athletes
• Coaches
• Parents

It is important to make everyone aware of the seriousness of head injuries and concussions. Below are some items that can be posted at practice and game facilities and can also be distributed to club members.

• Main Message Poster
• General Info Poster
• Facts with Emergency Numbers - Option A
• Facts with Emergency Numbers - Option B

The full USA Water Polo Playing Rules can be found HERE

USAWP Playing Rule - WP 4 CAPS

Rule 4 explains the rules for caps, specifically, Rule 4.5 discusses the specific use of headgear:

• (a) The use of a padded swim cap worn under a water polo competition cap is permitted provided that the water polo competition cap can securely fit over the padded swim cap. The color of the padded swim cap shall match the color of the water polo competition cap as closely as possible.
• (b) The use of soft headgear is permitted provided it meets the requirements of rule WP 4. In addition, the headgear shall not have large gaps anywhere in its design. Referees have the authority to prohibit the use of a padded swim cap and soft headgear, if they do not meet the requirements Rule WP 4 and/or if the cap or headgear has the potential to cause injury to the wearer or other participants.

USAWP Playing Rule - WP 5.4
Players shall wear non-transparent costumes or costumes with a separate undergarment and before taking part in a game shall remove any articles likely to cause injury.

What this means is that although we have established some guidelines as to what is acceptable, the referee still has total discretion as to what may be allowed during a game and should inspect all players prior to the start of any game for those articles. We all know that jewelry, (including body piercings), wrist bands, and the like must be removed before play, not only to prevent injury to the wearer, but to their teammates and opponents as well.

It gets a little trickier with some other "medical" equipment such as prescription eyewear, splints, braces, protective face masks, etc.The guidelines for such devices are relatively simple and are along the same lines as the most recent FINA interpretations.

Articles (ie. facemasks and goggles) must be flexible with no hard or sharp edges that could cause injury to the wearer or others in the pool.

Finger splints must be padded and covered with no hard or sharp edges.

Player safety is first and foremost. If you intend or are required to wear a protective device it is recommended you get it checked out by the head referee in your zone prior to any competition to ensure it meets the requirements in the Playing Rules and avoid the chance of not being allowed to wear that particular item in a game.

Photo ID Check

USA Water Polo has implemented a photo ID check at all sanctioned events to guarantee all members participating are current USAWP members and are eligible to participate.

Single Game - 15 minutes prior to start of game
Tournament - Immediately after previous game ends
Camp/Clinic - Before the getting into the water
Other - Use best judgment

1.) Coach(es) will have athletes available at check-in time determined by official on deck.
2.) Coach to provide copy of team roster to officials. Roster will be given to desk and will be attached to official scoresheet. It will not be returned.
3.) Participants (including coaches & team managers) should line up on pool deck in numerical order with acceptable form* of photo ID in hand.
4.) Referee will call each athlete and coach forward to begin participant check-in. Referee should match the picture with the participant as they are called forward. If picture is not very easily recognizable (as determined by the ref) please ask participant to confirm date-of-birth.

If picture is not recognizable at all, member will not be able to participate in that game until they can provide a proper photo ID. The athlete must provide their assigned cap to the scoring table until they are able to show proper photo identification.

If NO picture is on ID and athlete is 12 years old or younger, a parent must show their ID to vouch for the member. Parent should also confirm date of birth of the athlete with the official.

If no picture is on ID and member is OVER the age of 12, they will not be able to participate in that game until they can provide a photo ID. The athlete must provide their assigned cap to the desk until they are able to show proper photo identification. Parents ID voucher will not suffice.

If ID does not match player on roster, or no photo ID is provided, member will not be able to participate even if you personally know them. The member cannot be added back to the roster until they can provide a clear, acceptable form of photo ID. The athlete must give their assigned cap to the scoring table until a proper form of photo identification is received and accepted. If this occurs during the course of play, member is to check in with the scoring table during the next quarter break. Compliance is mandatory. Any violation is subject to immediate disqualification.

*Acceptable forms of ID (headshot photos must be clear)

• Passport
• Driver's License
• State - or Government-Issued Identification Card
• USA Water Polo Membership ID (permanent or temporary; temp available online)
• School-Issued ID

Suspended Games

If a game cannot be continued for safety, (as in no light), severe weather, or any other environmental or facility condition that would keep the game from being completed the game should be suspended until such a time that the game can resume, (ie, lightning passes by, lights are repaired or come back on, etc.) When and if the game is able to continue, it is resumed at the point of play when the game was halted.

If it is determined by the tournament committee or tournament director that the game cannot, for whatever reason, be completed, the game shall be declared abandoned and the score at the time of the stoppage stands.

This does not apply to a game being forfeited or abandoned for conduct or unsportsmanlike play.