Water polo is changing.
In 2026, World Aquatics brought a new format to the international stage: Water Polo 4×4 (WP4). The first global tournament was held in Dubrovnik in late August and early September, introducing a faster, more compact version of the sport with a very different rhythm and a number of unique rules.
And this is not simply “water polo with four players instead of seven”. World Aquatics officially treats WP4 as a distinct discipline with its own set of rules.
That is exactly why we are bringing WP4 support to ScoreLab.
HOW IS WP4 DIFFERENT FROM TRADITIONAL WATER POLO?
FOUR PLAYERS INSTEAD OF SEVEN
In traditional water polo, seven players from each team are in the water at the same time — six field players and a goalkeeper.
In WP4, there are only four players: three field players and a goalkeeper. A team may have between four and eight players on its roster, with up to four substitutes. Substitutions can take place during play.
Fewer players create more space, more frequent transitions and a completely different tactical rhythm.
A MUCH SMALLER PLAYING AREA
The WP4 field measures 15–16 metres in length and 10 metres in width.
This is considerably more compact than a traditional water polo field. The smaller playing area makes the game faster and also allows WP4 to be staged in venues where a full-size water polo field may not be practical.
World Aquatics has specifically positioned the format as a more flexible and accessible version of the sport, including for urban pools and alternative venues.
20 SECONDS TO ATTACK
A team may keep possession for no more than 20 seconds without taking a shot at the opponent's goal.
This is one of the main reasons for the format's high tempo. There is simply no time for long, patient possessions. The shot clock is reset after a shot, a change of possession and in other situations defined by the rules.
MATCHES ARE DECIDED BY SETS
Perhaps the biggest change is the way the winner is determined.
A WP4 match consists of up to four five-minute periods. But each period is effectively a separate set.
The team scoring more goals in a set wins one set point. The next set then starts from 0–0 in goals.
The first team to win three sets wins the match. Therefore, a final match result can only be 3–0, 3–1 or 3–2. If the score is 2–2 after four sets, the winner is decided by a penalty shootout.
In other words, every set is almost a small match within the match.
A TIED SET GOES TO GOLDEN GOAL
If the score is tied at the end of the five-minute period, the set does not end in a draw.
Instead, the teams play until the next goal — Golden Goal. The team scoring it wins the set.
A GOAL FROM YOUR OWN HALF IS WORTH TWO
WP4 introduces another unusual scoring feature.
A normal goal is worth one point. But a shot resulting in a goal from a player's defensive half of the field is worth two points.
This gives long-range shooting a completely different tactical value and creates additional opportunities for turning a set around.
A different foul system
WP4 has its own personal-foul structure.
A player who commits four personal fouls is excluded for the remainder of the match. In addition, every fourth personal foul committed by a team during a set results in a Bonus Penalty Throw for the opposition.
The team's personal-foul count for this purpose resets at the beginning of every set.
This is another area where a statistical system needs to treat WP4 differently from traditional water polo.
No corner throws
WP4 does not use corner throws. Situations that would normally result in a corner throw in traditional water polo are handled through the specific restart procedures defined in the WP4 rules.
Even the officiating is different
At World Aquatics events, a WP4 match is officiated by one referee, together with a secretary and two timekeepers.
The officiating structure and match procedures are adapted to the compact field and the fast pace of the game.
Why does this format matter?
WP4 is part of a broader evolution of modern sport.
Sports are looking for formats that are faster, more dynamic, less dependent on large-scale infrastructure and easier to bring to new audiences and locations. World Aquatics sees 4×4 as a way to make water polo more flexible, accessible and globally scalable.
And the first international tournament showed just how high the tempo can be. Across 84 men's and women's matches in Dubrovnik, 1,865 goals were scored — more than 22 goals per game on average.
ScoreLab is getting ready for WP4
For us, the arrival of a new format is another step in the evolution of ScoreLab.
We have already started working on WP4 support and plan to bring it to the system in the near future.
This is not simply a matter of adding another match type. WP4 requires an entirely different statistical model: sets and set results, Golden Goals, two-point goals, a shorter possession clock, a different personal-foul structure, Bonus Penalty Throws and other features specific to the new discipline.
Our goal is to make WP4 in ScoreLab a full-featured statistical environment built around the actual logic of the new format, rather than simply adapting the statistics of traditional water polo.
WP4 is only beginning its journey.
And ScoreLab will be there — to capture that journey, turn it into data, and make every part of the game measurable.