7 players per team in the water at any time (6 field players + 1 goalkeeper); Roster: typically 13-15 players for NCAA D1; up to 13 may be designated for game day; Substitutions: unlimited at the dead-ball "swim re-entry" or after a goal scored, in the substitution zone
Why people argue about this
People often assume that only 6 players are active in the water at once during play, which leads them to overlook the goalkeeper. However, the NCAA's Section 4 clearly states each team has 7 players in the water (6 field players + 1 goalie) at all times, and this can be confusing because it doesn't match their initial perception of a typical game setup.
