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Have you
seen 16 kayaks in a 1/2 Olympic-size swimming pool? If you think
its unbelievable, you've not seen canoe polo.
 Canoe
polo is played with 2 teams of 5 to 8 players. Only 5 players from
each team is allowed on the field of 25 to 40 m long during play,
with substitution during the game. Players may used their hands
to pass or shoot the ball, or used the paddle to flick it. The object
is to score as many goals as possible in a goal suspended 2 m above
the water.
If you've seen the game, you'll be able to draw
a parallel to Basketball here.
 The
game is percieved to be violent, helped no less by the image presented
by the mandatory facemasks and padded PFDs. To address this, playing
rules set by the International Canoe Federation seek to protect
players from endangering other players. Players are faulted for
TOUCHING their opponents' body with their kayak or using their paddles
within 1 meter of their opponent (or any part of it).
But you can capsize your opponent with your hand
(only by pushing) :-) This is known as hand tackle. The picture
on the left shows the white helmet player hand tackling his opponent,
who is bracing with .. the ball !
Canoe Polo was born as winter training game for slalom
paddlers in Europe. Needless to say, many kayaking skills such as
the duffek, the stern squirt, rolling and of course precision kayak
control are tested to the max here. Being a team based game, teamwork
among the players is also introduced.
A 3 on
3 version using sit-on-top kayaks is being introduce recently by
Ocean Kayaks. With easier kayaks and relaxed rules it is easier
to play for recreational paddlers of all skill level, especially
beginners.
Today,
canoe polo is played by as many as 25 teams including many tertiary
and polytechnic teams. The annual National Canoe Polo Championships
is entering into its 5th year now.
If you wish to find out more about canoe polo, contact
us or any of the above affiliates.
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