At the BOA Nationals in April in Sheffield this will be implemented on 2 of the courts (though I think its only being implemented due to trying to run 3 courts in the one pool, court one will be using in water side-subbing)

the details in the team brief are

Playing Court TWO and THREE

These court will use Out-of-water side substitution. Again this may be new to some teams, but is an accepted method of substitution and is much safer than end-substitution traditionally used – and it’s really very simple!!. It is slightly different than the method used for playing court one above. Here are some brief pointers:


o substitutes wait in the substitute’s box, which is a 3m long zone outside of the water on the side of the pool to one side of pool half way point, the area is marked out by markers.
o the substitute’s box is OUT OF the water.
o the normal rules about substituting apply – 1 out then 1 in.
o substitutes may enter the water, when the player subbing out touches the side of the pool within the substitution box with both hands. The player entering the water then gently slips into the water feet first from the seated position with one hand on the side (NO diving or rolling into the water). – no chance of being jumped on here! You are deemed to be ‘in’ the subs box when both of your hands touch the side. Once you have touched the side you must then exit the water and sit on the side in the subs box.
o when a goal is scored substitutes may enter the pitch before those they are replacing leave it. As long as only 6 players remain in the playing area at the restart of play then no foul has occurred.
o when a substitute enters the playing area after a goal is scored or following the playing of a penalty shot, they must touch their end-line before re-entering play unless play has restarted and the puck is ‘in possession’.

If there are any operational problems with the Out-of-water side subbing then the pools will be converted back to the traditional end-subbing, at the discretion of the Chief Referee.