2. The teams shall be distinguished by the players wearing caps of different colours. Goal-posts to be 7 feet wide, 6 feet high from the surface of the water, and fixed 2 feet 6 inches from end of pond. The ball to be 26 and not more than 28} inches in circumference. 3. The captains shall agree or toss for choice of ends. Each side shall appoint an umpire, and a referee shall be appointed by mutual agreement, whose decision in all cases of dispute shall be final.
4. At the commencement of the play the referee shall stand at the centre of the side of the bath, and shall then blow a whistle to signify to the captains to get ready, and after ascertaining that they are ready, he shall give the word to go, at the same time throwing the ball into the centre of the bath.
5. All players, with the exception of goal-keeper, shall enter the water immediately at the commencement of the game, and remain in the water while the ball is in play.
6. No player shall be allowed to duck an opponent unless such opponent shall be in possession of the ball ; no holding or pulling back of any opponent, nor (with the exception of goal-keeper) play ing the ball with both hands.
7. A goal shall only be scored when the ball has been thrown or placed between the goal posts under the bar. Fouls to be declared by whistle ; goals, half-time, and time to be declared by bell.
8. No player (with exception of goal-keeper) shall be allowed to stand on bottom of bath while playing the balL 9. A goal-keeper throwing the ball past the centre of the pond shall concede a free throw to his opponents. The free throw to be taken from the centre of either side of the bath.
Ito. Should the opposing team throw the ball over the end of the bath, the goal-keeper shall have a free throw from goal ; but should the defending team do so, they shall concede a corner throw.
1. No player shall be allowed to play the ball while holding on by the rail.
12. Any infringement of Rule 6, 8, or I I shall be considered a foul. In the event of a foul being declared against any player, his opponents shall be allowed a free throw in any direction, from the side of the bath nearest to where the foul shall have occurred. A goal shall not be scored from a free throw, unless the ball has touched another player before going between the goal-posts. When a goal has been scored, the time from the scoring of the goal to the re-starting of the game, or any time lost in dispute, shall be added to the game.
(Pacific), and the authors of the present volume, to revise the laws and compile a set of conditions for water-polo championships. Their report, presented in April i888, was unanimously adopted. The new laws provided that goal posts 8 feet wide, with a crossbar 6 feet above the surface of the water, and fixed at least one foot from the end of the bath, should be used, and that the player should be actually swimming when passing or playing the ball. For the first English championship the entries were not numerous, but this was only to be expected, as the expenses of travelling had to be borne by the individual players, who, in most cases, were mere youths, not overburdened with cash. The institution of the county and district competitions tended still further to diminish the number of clubs anxious to compete for the championship honours, the question of expense being an effectual deterrent with many, and at length the Amateur Swimming Association was prevailed upon to pass a rule allowing • the payment of third class return railway fares, In the championship matches, except the final tie, the burden falls upon the clubs who happen to be successful in the draw for the choice of bath, they having to the railway expenses of their opponents.
After the decision of the preliminary rounds the Otter, Tadpole, and Nautilus (London), and the Burton-on-Trent Amateur Clubs were left in the semi-final round. Nautilus were defeated by Burton by one goal to nil, and as the Tadpoles scratched, the famous Otter and the crack Midland combination were left in for the final. They met at the Lambeth Baths, the game ending in an easy win for the Midlanders, These games were very carefully watched, and the new style of play freely criticised. As an immediate result, a com mittee of experts was appointed to revise the laws, as it was generally conceded that some of the conditions imposed Were absurd, as well as being capable of lending themselves to two or three different constructions. A voluminous correspondence was carried on between all the important clubs and organisa tions in the kingdom, with the result that the following rules were eventually adopted : t. Ball.—The ball to be an Association football (No. 3), and to be not less than 8 nor more than 9 inches in diameter. The ball to be furnished by the home team.