Canoe polo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Canoe polo (called kayak polo in some countries) is a competitive ball sport played on water, in a defined "field", between two teams of 5 players, each in a kayak. The object of the game is to get the ball into the opponent's goal (i.e. to score goals), the team scoring the most goals in a set time being the winner.
The game is played in many countries on all continents, for recreation and serious sport. The sport has World Championships every 2 years. Internationally the sport is organised by the Canoe Polo committee of the International Canoe Federation, as one of the disciplines of the sport of canoeing. In 2005 Canoe Polo was contested at the World Games in Duisberg Germany under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee.
The game is often described as a combination of water polo, basketball and kayaking. It is fast and aggressive, but relatively injury free[citation needed]. The tactics and playing of the game are not unlike basketball or water polo but with the added complexity of the boats, which make excellent "shields" for the ball.
The ball, a waterpolo ball, is passed from hand to hand among the players, with some use of the paddle on the ball also allowed. A player in possession can be tackled by being pushed over on the shoulder, players may only have the ball in their possession for a maximum of five seconds. Players can 'dribble' the ball by throwing it out of reach, ahead of themselves or sideways into the water. Most of the rules concern the safety of the players involved. Penalties include goal- and sideline throws, free shots, goal penalty shots, and green, yellow or red cards.
Canoe polo is played either indoors in swimming pools or outdoors on a "field" which should measure 35 metres by 23 metres. The edges of the pitch are marked by the sides of the pool or by floating ropes (similar to lane markers in swimming).
There are two referees (one on each side-line) and they are on foot rather than in boats. The score is kept by the scorekeeper and the timekeeper monitors the playing time and sending-off times. The goal lines are monitored by 2 line judges. Before play commences scrutineers check all kit for compliance with regulations
The goals (measuring 1 by 1.5 metres) are a frame with a net, suspended 2 metres above the water. A player, acting as goalie, defends the goal with their paddle by sticking it up vertically, special rules concern the goalie, such as: the attacking team not being able to interfere with or jostle him.
The game is officially played as a 20 minute game consisting of two 10 minute halves. The teams swap ends at half-time. Each half begins with a "charge" where each team lines up against its goal-line and the ball is thrown into the middle of the pitch by the referee. One player from each team sprints to win possession of the ball.
[edit] See also
International Canoe Federation
European Championship results (German Wikipedia)
[edit] External links
- Canoe Polo International
- ICF Polo Committee
- CanoePolo.org, a wiki for canoe polo
- Clydes Polo Page, long-lived popular website dealing with all aspects of International and UK canoe polo
- BCU Canoe Polo Committee, The British Canoe Union Canoe Polo Committee's website
- sportpicsuk.com polo pictures , High Quality Photographs of Canoe Polo
