What
is Canoe/Kayak Polo?
Canoe/Kayak
Polo can be played indoors or outdoors on any flat area of water where a
suitable court can be marked out. Canoe/Kayak
Polo has been played in countries all over the world for over 25 years. Internationally agreed rules (via the International Canoe
Federation--I.C.F.) were introduced in 1987.
Kayak
Polo (or Canoe Polo, as it is known internationally) is a team game played in
kayaks with water polo ball in a rectangular area approximately 130 ft (40 m)
by 80 ft (25 m) of a pool or lake. Goals
are suspended 6.5 ft (2 m) above each goal line. Kayaks have padding on the bow and stern to
avoid injuring other players. Players
wear helmets with facemasks and PFD’s (personal
floatation devices) with increased chest, back, and kidney padding for personal
protection.
A
kayak polo team consists of five to ten players. At any given time during play, five players
are allowed on the court for each team.
Games consist of two 8-10 minute halves.
As in basketball or soccer, the aim is to outscore your opponent. To do this, teamwork and tactics are
essential.
Paddlers
move the ball with either their hands or the paddle blade. Players move the ball by passing it to a team
member, throwing it to the front of the boat and paddling to it (known as
dribbling), or shooting it at the oppositions goal. After gaining possession of the ball, a player
has five seconds before they must pass, dribble, or shoot. During that five seconds, opposing players
will attempt to push over (known as a hand tackle), or ram into the ball
handlers kayak (known as a kayak tackle) to force the thrower to lose control
of the ball, or make an errant pass.
This contact is only allowed on the person with the ball. Penalties are called on any player who
strikes (with their boat, body, or paddle) an opposing player who is not in
possession of the ball.
One
of the best characteristics of Kayak Polo is a team aspect of the sport which
puts one team directly in competition against another team. All other kayaking disciplines pit the
individual (or individuals) against the clock.
Because of the team nature and short playing time, Canoe Polo is a
fast-paced and excellent spectator sport that is gaining interest throughout
the world.
(Adapted from Stu Midgely : http://canoepolo.pd.uwa.edu.au/canoepolo/info/whatisit.html)
Quick
Start to Kayak Polo
1. PLAYING AREA
The playing area is a
rectangular swimming pool, and has a length to width ratio of 3 to 2 where
possible. The minimum length is 25 meters and maximum is 40 meters. The minimum
depth is 90 cm.
The goals are located over
the center of each Goal-Line with their inside edge two meters above the water.
The goals consist of open frames 1 meter high by 1.5 meters wide (measured
internally) hung vertically.
2. BALL
The ball used to play is an
official water polo ball. The ball can
be handled by either a players hand or the paddle blade.
3. KAYAKS
The kayaks have a length of
no more than 3 meters and no less than 2 meters. The width is between 50-60 cm.
The kayak must have its ends in plan, a curve not less than 10 cm radius at any
point.
In
the
4. PADDLES
The blades can be no more than 50 cm x 25 cm in plan
no with no part of the edge less than 3 cm radius in plan. Paddle must not have
any sharp projections or any other dangerous feature. Any sharp edges must be taped over. Unless you purchase a Polo paddle, a WW
paddle can be made safer (and closer to
3mm thick) by placing Rim Rubber (available from paddling stores) or regular
car door trim molding (available from any auto parts store) to the edge of the
paddle. In addition, you may need to use
duct tape to have these rim edges stay on and expose no sharp edges.
5. PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
All the players must wear all
the protection equipment, this includes the helmet (a facemask is highly
recommended since the most common polo injury is a broken nose or split
lip--hockey masks work well or polo masks are obtainable), a PFD(Kayak Polo
pfd's are preferable since the have thicker padding and kidney padding;
however, a WW pfd is adequate) and a spraydeck. SEE
PICTURE BELOW. However, no other personal
clothing or jewelry is allowed to be worn during play.
6. "BOILED DOWN"
KAYAK POLO RULES
6.1. Each team consists of up to eight players,
but only five are allowed on the court at any time. Substitutions can be made
at any time, even during play.
6.2. There are four referees:
First Referee and Second Referee, and two Goal Linesman; as well as a
timekeeper and a scorekeeper.
6.3. The game is played in
6.4. The ball may be played
with the hands or the paddle, except it that cannot be struck (like hitting a
baseball) nor held with the hands for more than 5 seconds.
6.5. Possession of the ball is when the player can
reach the ball with his or her hands.
6.6. When players are in
possession of the ball they may be either hand tackled (pushed with one hand on
their shoulder) or kayak tackled (the attacking boat pushes their boats).
Except the goalkeeper who can never be touched even indirectly. A goal keeper is the person under the goal
who has their paddle extended vertically from their boat guarding the goal
cage.
6.7. After a goal is scored, the ball is started
from the center.
6.8. When a foul is committed on a player in the
act of shooting, a goal-penalty-shot is awarded. It must be taken from 6 meter
line at an undefended goal. All other
players must be behind the half-court line.
6.9. The ball is not allowed to rest on the kayak
(i.e. you can't paddle with it sitting on your spraydeck.
6.10. It is not permitted to
hit an opponents body with the paddle, your boat at any time.
6.11. There are different
kinds of sanctions: a)Green Card –
Warning b)Yellow Card - 2 minutes
suspension c)Red Card – Suspension for
rest of game. Hold Card above head. Other arm pointing to player. If necessary,
indicate number of player with fingers. Use clenched fist to indicate ten where
a number 10 or larger is required.
6.12. At the start of the
game and at the start of the second half, each team lines up on its own goal
line and the referee throws the ball into the center of playing area. One
player from each team charges for the ball to gain possession of the ball.
6.13. It is considered
unsportsmanlike behavior to: holding or moving another player's paddle out of
his reach, or deliberately preventing the player from regaining possession of
the paddle. Throwing the ball away, or deliberately obstructing the opposition,
to delay a quick restart after an infringement.
For more information, go to: http://www.canoe-polo.com/